511 Χ. DESCRIPTION of a Species of Ox, named GAYA'L. COMMUNICATED BY H. T. COLEBROOKE, ESQ. T of the researches of the Asiatic Society *, by its Indian name, which was explained by the phrase, 'cattle of the mountains.' It had been obscurely noticed (if indeed the same species of ox be meant,) by KNOX, in his historical relation of Ceylon†; and it has been imperfectly described by Captain TURNER, in his journey through Bootan‡. Herds of this species of cattle have been long possessed by many gentlemen, in the eastern districts of Bengal, and also in other parts of this province: but no detailed account of the animal, and of its habits, has been yet published in India. Το remedy this deficiency, Dr. ROXBURGH undertook, at my solicitation, to describe the Gayal, from those seen by him in a herd belonging to the Governor General. Dr. BUCHANAN has also obligingly communicated his observations on the same cattle: and both descriptions are here laid before the society; with information obtained from several gentlemen at Tipura, Silhet, and Chatgaon, relative to the habits of the animal. The original drawing, from which the plate has been taken, is * In the second volume, (p. 188,) published in 1790. † P. 21. ↑ Embassy to Tibet, p. 160. in the collection of Sir JOHN ANSTRUTHER, for whom it was drawn by a native artist in his ser vice. From the information which was first received, it was supposed that the Gayul would not engender either with the buffalo, or with the common bull and cow, and must therefore constitute a distinct species in every system of classification. Although that be not confirmed, by the correcter information now obtained, yet on account of the considerable, and apparently permanent, differ ence between the common cow and the Gayal, this ought still, perhaps, to be considered as a distinct species, rather than as a variety. Its ge neric, and trivial names, with the synonyma, may be stated as follows. Bos Gavaus. SYNONYMA: Sansc. Gavaya; "Hind. Gavai, or Gayál; Beng. Gobaygoru; Pers. Gaujangali; mountaineers (Cúcís, &c.) east of Silhet, Metha na; mountaineers (Cúcis) east of Chatgaon, Shidl; Mugs, J'hongnua. Burmas, Núnec. Ceylon, Gauvera*. Bos Bubalus Gauvera: PENNANT †. 'The Gayal,' says Dr. ROXBURGH, 'is nearly of the size and shape of the English bull. It has short horns, which are distant at their bases, and * KNOX's historical relation of Ceylon, p. 21. + History of Quadrupeds, I. p. 27. : rise in a gentle curve directly out and up: a transverse section, near the base, is ovate; the thick end of the section being on the inside. The front is broad, and crowned with a tuft of lighter coloured, long, curved hair. The dewlap is deep and pendent. It has no mane, nor hump; but a considerable elevation over the withers. The tail is short; the body covered with a tolerable coat of straight, dark-brown hair: on the belly, it is lighter coloured; and the legs and face are sometimes white.' DOCTOR BUCHANAN thus describes it: 'The Gayal generally carries its head with the mouth projecting forward like that of a buffalo. The head, at the upper part, is very broad and flat, and is contracted suddenly towards the nose, which is naked, like that of the common cow. From the upper angles of the forehead proceed two thick, short, horizontal processes of bone, which are covered with hair. On these are placed the horns, which are smooth, shorter than the head, and lie nearly in the plane of the forehead. They diverge outward, and turn up with a gentle curve. At the base they are very thick, and are slightly compressed, the flat sides being toward the front and the tail. The edge next the ear is rather the thinnest, so that a transverse section would be somewhat ovate. Toward their tips, the horns are rounded, and end in a sharp point. The eyes resemble those of the common ox; the ears are much longer, broader, and blunter than those of that animal. 'The neck is very slender near the head, at some distance from which a dewlap commences; but this is not so deep, nor so much undulated, VOL. VIII. L1 |