Again, he states that "their anatomical structure is the same;" but he does not inform us when, or where, or how, the comparison was made which enabled him to arrive at that conclusion.
Wishing to satisfy myself, as far as possible, on this point, I have examined the skeleton both of the British Domestic Ox and the Zebu; and the following is the result of that examination:—
| NUMBER OF VERTEBRÆ. | |||||||
| Cerv. | Dors. | Lumb. | Sac. | Caud. | Total. | ||
| In the Zebu | 7 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 18 | = | 48 |
| In the Common Ox | 7 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 21 | = | 52 |
The skeletons may still be seen in the Museum of the College of Surgeons.
Furthermore, the period of gestation of the Brahmin Cow (according to the MS. records of the Zoological Society), is 300 days, while that of the Common Cow is only 270 days.
Whether the differences here pointed out are sufficient to constitute specific distinction, is left for the umpires to decide.
THE ZEBU.—(Var. β.)
These Indian Cattle are extremely gentle, and admirably adapted to harness. Some of the eastern princes attach them to their artillery; but generally they employ the finest to draw their light carriages, which in form are very similar to those of the ancients. In mountainous countries, they have them shod. Their pace is a kind of amble, and they are able to sustain a journey of about twenty leagues a day. Guided by a cord which passes through the nasal cartilage, they obey the hand with as much precision as a horse.
In the same provinces are seen a race of dwarf Bisons, which are scarcely as tall as our calves of two months old, generally described under the name of Zebu. They are lively, well proportioned, and trained to be mounted by children, or to draw a light car. In both cases their pace is a sort of amble, the same as that of the larger species.