In its present broken condition the span of the horn-cores of the type
specimen (Fig. 2) is considerably over six feet, from which it may be
inferred that in life they were little, i f at all, short o f ten or eleven feet
from tip to tip.
Distributions^orthern India during the Pliocene period. Not improbably
the ‘Skull from the same deposits described by myself as Bo$
planifrons may indicate the female of this species.
ii. B ib o v is e G roup— S ub- G em js B ibos:
Bibos, Hodgson, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, vol.. vi. p. 499 (1837).
Gavteus, Hodgson, op. cit. vol. xvi. p. 706 (1847).
Syncerus, Hodgson, he. cit. 1847, nec Syncera, Gray, 18 2 1.
CbaracterM-Allied to the typical group, but the forehead shorter, the
interval between the bases of the horns and the {Jpkets o f the eyes-less, the
horns generally more or less elliptical in section, especially at their bases in
old bulls, the tail relatively shorter, reaching but little, i f at all, below the"
hocks, and a more or less distinct elevated ridge extending from the nape
and shoulders to the middle of the back, where it suddenly terminates,
frequently forming a step of several inches in height. Colour of adult
bulls generally dark blackish-brown, with the legs from above the knees
and hocks to the hoofs white or whitish ; -females and young" males:"
either of a paler colour, or reddish-brown, with the same white legs.
Hair short, line, and glossy, without tendency to form a mane||in any
part of the head or body. Hoofs narrow and pointed. Thirteen pairs
o f ribs.
The ridge on the back, which attains a much smaller development in
the banting than in the other two species, is due to the enormops elevation
of the neural spinesHof the dorsal vertebra, the summits o f which form a
nearly horizontal line from the third to the eleventh of the series, and then
1 See note on p. 8.