BUFFALO, a name often applied to two distinct bovine genera or sub-genera —viz., the Asiatic buffalo (bubalus) with the Cape buffalo; and the American buffalo, better named bison. The genus or sub-genus bubalus has the usual bovine characteristics, and, whatever be its exact limits in strict zoological classi fication, remains, for practical purposes, a large, clumsy ox. The horns rise from the posterior side corners of the skull, are usually thickened out of proportion at the base, and irregularly ridged, though smooth toward the points; the forehead is short and arched; the cover ing of hair is comparatively sparse. The common or Asiatic buffalo (B. buff elus) has beautifully twisted horns, thick and broad at the base, rough on to the middle, somewhat triangular in section. The horns lie back on the shoulders when the animal walks or runs, with its muzzle projecting characteristically for ward. The hair is short and scanty, almost bristly, slightly longer on head, shoulders and front of neck, and all but black in color. The bare, brown, pol ished hide is, however, the more striking feature. The animal measures about 7 feet in length, and stands about 4 feet high at the shoulder. It is a native of the East Indies, has been domesticated in India, and thence introduced into Egypt, Greece, Italy, Hungary, etc. The buffalo is a very powerful animal, much more powerful than the ox, and capable of dragging or carrying a far heavier load. The female yields a much greater
quantity of milk than a cow, and of ex cellent quality. It is from buffalo milk that the ghee or semi-fluid butter of India is made. The hide is greatly valued for its strength and durability, but the flesh is decidedly inferior to that of the ox. The Cape buffalo (Los cater) is generally regarded as a distinct species. The horns are very large; they spread horizontally over the top of the head, and are then bent down laterally, and turned upward at the point. The head is carried, as by the common buf falo, with projecting muzzle and reclin ing horns, but the bases of the horns nearly meet on the forehead, where they are from 8 to 10 inches broad. The length of a full-grown Cape buffalo is about 8 feet from the root of the horns to the tail, and the height is 51/2 feet. This animal is regarded as more formi dable than any other in south Africa. The buffalo is still found in large herds in the marshy wooded regions of central and south Africa. It grazes chiefly in the evening, and lies in woods and thickets during the day. It will readily act on the aggressive, and has never been domesticated. The flesh, though coarse, is palatable. For the American buffalo, see BISON.
chiefly applied to railroad carriages, there being two at each end.