Buffalo

Buffalo, any individual or species of Bubalus, a genus or sub-genus of Bovidae, strictly confined to the Old World, though in America the name Buffalo is commonly given to the Bison (q.v.). Buffaloes are large, clumsy oxen, differing from the domestic ox in their massive proportions, and in having the horns flattened and triangular in section, inclined outwards and backwards, and turning upwards at the tips. The Asiatic or Indian Buffalo (B. buffelus), a native of India and the islands of the Eastern Archipelago, stands about four feet high at the shoulders, and is some seven feet from the snout to the insertion of the tail. The skin is brown, and sparsely covered with stiff black hair, longer on the head and neck, and falling off with age. The horns curve backwards, and when the animal is in motion it holds its head so far forward that they touch the shoulders. The hide makes excellent leather; from the milk a kind of butter is made; but the flesh is little esteemed. The buffalo was domesticated at a very early period; from its great strength it is a valuable beast of burden, and has been introduced into Egypt and the South of Europe. Both in its wild and tame condition it is a marsh-loving animal, and rolls in and coats itself with mud as a protection against insects. It can never resist the temptation of wallowing, and for this reason is seldom laden with goods liable to damage from water. It is said to be a match for the tiger, and fights between these two animals are a common amusement of some of the native princes. The name "sporting buffaloes" is given to those trained to stand as cover for sportsmen shooting waterfowl. The Cape buffalo or Cape ox (Bos caffer), a native of South Africa, is a somewhat larger animal, covered with deep brown or black bristly hair, and having huge horns flattened at the base, where they almost meet. It resembles the Asiatic species in general habits, but is of much fiercer disposition. Large herds of these animals were formerly very common, but the advance of civilisation and the fondness of sportsmen for "large game" have rendered the Cape buffalo rare, if not extinct, within the colony from which it takes its name. This animal has never been domesticated.