Animal Alphabet, U through Z

The UNICORN
Had but one horn
To jab his foeman with;
It would not do
To search the zoo
For him, for he's a myth.

The toughest bird

Of which I've heard

Without doubt is the VULTURE.

He steals and slays,

And all his ways

Proclaim he has no culture.

The WILDCAT'S name

Shows he's not tame;

He's anything but mild.

His friends are few;

He knows it, too,

And that's what makes him wild.

Let's not discuss

The XIPHIAS,

I'm sure you would be bored.

the only thing

Interesting

About him is his sword.

It's well to stay

Quite far away

From YELLOW-JACKET'S nest.

For he can sting

Like anything;

That's what he does the best.

The old ZEBU

Would hardly do

To ride upon the street.

Though he knows how

To pull a plow,

He's anything but fleet.

Ross F. Taylor

1rst and 2nd and 3rd and 4th pages

The Zebu

        The  Zebu  was  one  of  the  famous  sacred  animals  of  India.  It  was  also  found in  parts  of  Southern  Asia  and  even  in  Madagascar,  though  its  true  home  was  in India.  
       It  is  rather  a  pretty  and  intelligent  animal,  about  the  size  of  a  Jersey cow.  It  has  a  hump  on  its  shoulders  and  short  horns.  English  people  who lived  in  India long ago  looked  upon  the  zebu  as  a  great  nuisance,  but  owing  to  its sacred  status, they  dared  not  interfere  with  it.  The  zebu  was  allowed  to  run  wild wherever  it  pleased.  It  was  quite  a  common  sight  to  see  one  of  these  animals going  through  the  village  streets  with  a  comical  air  of  dignity.  It  would  pause to  examine  anything  that  would  catch  its  eye  or  help  itself  to  fruit  from  a  Hindoo vendor's  stand,  and  no  one  would  raise  a  protest.  If  it  wanted  anything  it  demanded it  with  a  grunt,  and  if  not  attended  to  quickly  it  was  apt  to  use  its  horns.  Sometimes the  zebu  fell  asleep  in  a  narrow  roadway  so  as  to  completely  block  it up,  and  nothing  could  pass  along  until  the  beast  awakes.  Therefore  the  English people  disliked  the  animal,  but  the  Hindoos  still  held  it  in  awe.
       The  zebu  is  not  blessed  with  a  good  temper.  If  it  sees  any  man  or  woman doing  anything  that  it  does  not  like,  or  wearing  clothes  of  a  red  color,  it  will charge  them  without  warning,  and  all  the  natives  can  do  is  to  fly  until  they reach  a  tree  or  wall  upon  which  they  can  climb.  The  Hindoos  which  crowd the  streets  will  not  attempt  to  turn  the  zebu  from  its  victims,  but  simply  draw away  to  one  side  and  let  it  pass  on. 

 

Mamma zebu and her calf.

• Five top zebu breeds by Agro Bull
• What are mini zebus used for? by Marrero Family Farm

Zebu: 4 Basic Facts About

You can see the fatty hump on the back of a zebu.

The zebu, a species of ox, a native of India, whence it has spread into Persia, Arabia and Eastern Africa. It is used as a beast of burden, for plowing and hauling. The animal is remarkable for a convex forehead, short horns, large drooping ears and a fatty hump on the back. It is very gentle and docile.

For Basic Facts About The Zebu:

1. Zebus vary greatly in size, the smallest being no larger than a large dog, while others are the size of a large ox. 
2. The colors vary.
3. The white zebu bulls are regarded as sacred among the Hindus (who call them hrahmany) and are allowed a free range. 
4. Zebus have been imported to Jamaica and Central America for use on farms.

A Zebu Called Angel.