HUMPED CATTLE, or ZEBU. The common domestic cattle of India and the East, known in books as 'zebu' or `zubr.' but not so called any where in the Orient. It seems to be a distinct species (Bog /adieus), of which no wild examples remain. Certain bands of these cattle running wild have, however, ranged the forests of Eastern India for hundreds of years. and are large, long horned. and shy. In addition to the enormous hump on the fore shoulders. these cattle show some convexity of the forehead, concavity of the upper border of the short horns. large drooping ears, and a very large dewlap. In size and color they considerably. The most common colors are ashy gray or creamy buff, but red, brown, black, and even white ones are seen. A certain number of white bulls are held sacred by the Hindus, whence the name 'Brahminy,' often given to the entire race; and these wander about. de vastating, crops and feeding upon the vegetables exposed for sale in the bazaars without serious interference. The humped cattle are diffused over India. China, the Asiatic islands, ;Mada gascar. and the east coast of Africa. There are many breeds. differing in size; the largest are greater than any oxen of Europe, while the smallest are not much bigger than a large ma-s tiff. The hump of the largest breeds is said to
lie sometimes 50 pounds in weight. English residents in India esteem the hump as delicious for the table. There are hornless breeds, and a breed with two fatty humps. one behind the other. is common in the vicinity of Surat. The voice resembles the grunt n g of the yak. almost as nearly as the lowing of the ON. The zebu is used in India both as a beast of draught and of .burden. is yoked in the plow, is occasionally used for riding. and can travel from twenty thirty miles a day. and is very gentle and docile. In recent years they have- been introduced into ,Tamaica in considerable numbers, and are used on the large banana estates.
C fix, OR S NGA. A breed of humped cattle domesticated in East Africa, and most common in thyssinia, remarkable' for its massive horns. which sometime: form the figure of an upright lyre above its head. A sunga's horn may lie inches long. and IS inches around the base. This variety was known in ancient Egypt. and has been regarded as the parent stock of the Indian breeds of humped cattle: while Blyth finds in it an affinity to the han teng. Consult Proceedings of the Zoological So cicty of London (London. 1898).