Guide to the great fame animals (Ungulata) in the Department of Zoology, British Museum (Natural History) : Illustrated by 53 text and other figures.

  • British Museum (Natural History). Department of Zoology.
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Guide to the great fame animals (Ungulata) in the Department of Zoology, British Museum (Natural History) : Illustrated by 53 text and other figures. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    [Nortli Hall.] are exhibited in the North Hall. All the white Park Cattle have black or red ears, which is itself an indication of their derivation from a dark-coloured breed ; and it is noteworthy that there is a white breed of Pembroke Cattle with black feet, muzzles, and ears, which is practically identical with the Chillingham Park cattle. The black Spanish Fighting Bulls, of which a specimen (presented by Mr. E. F. Johnston in 1902) is exhibited, are probably also nearly related to the Aurochs, and show a similar pale-coloured stripe down the back. It has likewise been suggested that the fawn and white Siemental Cattle of Switzerland, a miniature model of a bull of which is shown, are near akin to the ancient Wild Ox. The Ankole Cattle of Uganda, characterised by the enormous size of the horns, as shown in a mounted head and a skull presented by Lt.-Col. Delme Radcliffe, appear to be allied to the ancient Egyptian breed, of which skulls (from tombs) are also exhibited. To this breed the name^os cegyptiacus has been given, as it appears to be markedly distinct from the Aurochs group. The ordinary Cattle of India, as well as those from many parts of Africa, Madagascar, and China, differ from European breeds by the presence of a fleshy hump on the shoulders, the convexity (in place of concavity) of the first curve of the horns, and the presence of a white ring round the eyes and another round each fetlock. The colouring, too, is of a different type, while the voice and habits are also distinct from those of European Cattle. Humped Cattle, or Zebu, belong indeed to a separate species (Bos indicus), the wild ancestor of which is extinct and unknown. A Brahmini or Zebu bull is exhibited in the North Hall, where horns of the Galla breed of Humped Cattle, characterised by the immense size of these appen- dages, are also shown. Not improbably the fawn-coloured Spanish Draught Cattle—of which two heads belonging to animals formerly kept at Osborne, and presented by His Majesty the King in 1902, are exhibited—have a strain of Zebu blood. The evidence for this is afforded by the form and curvature of the horns, and the presence of indistinct white rings round the eyes. Tradition also points to the existence of such a cross. Humped Oxen. Bos indicus.