Hi
I came across this story from the
English language Japan Times of October 8th
1928
By Mock Joya for the
Japan
Times.
Zoologists and others may probably
say that there is no such animal, but on the island of Tanegashima, Kyushu,
they are raising a creature called the Ushi-uma (ox-horse). This animal looks
like a cross between an ox and a horse. But even in Tanegashima it is a rare and
strange animal, there being only about twenty of these quadrupeds at present
existing. This animal, however, is no illusion, and if anyone doubts its
existence, he may visit the horse exhibit that will be soon opened at the Uyeno
park,Tokyo, as specimens of this strange animal
will be exhibited there by the Kagoshima prefecture
authorities.
There are many doubts as to the real
nature of this animal, and scientists have not yet agreed on the status of the
Ushi-uma, though they have already made long studies of it. Of course all know
that no cross between a horse and an ox is possible. But it is not known whether
the Ushi-uma is a kind of horse that looks like an ox, or an ox with some of the
characteristics of a horse. But because the animal retains the characteristics
of the two different animals, it has been called the
Ushi-uma.
Ushi-uma looks like a horse,and is
only much smaller than the ordinary Japanese ponies. Its general appearance
gives one the impression that it is a kind of horse, but it has no main. It has
a coat of short, black and glossy fur. Around its mouth, it has tassels of long
white hair just like camels have. These tassels make it look very comical. Its
tail is not like that of a horse, but it is more like an ox tail, being narrow
and long. The animal is quite timid but tame..
In the island of Tanegashima where this animal is being
raised, it is commonly believed that the Ushi-uma is really a cross between an
ox and a horse. But of course, that belief has no foundation, and it is believed
so simply because the animal is given such a compound
name.
It is certainly a rare and strange
creature, possessing characteristics of both an ox and a horse. It will be the
first opportunity for the Tokyo people to see this strange animal of
Tanegashima at the coming horse exhibit where the Ushi-uma will be a curious but
strong drawing card. (1)
Richard Freeman mentions the
Ushi-Oni in his The Great Yokai Encyclopaedia , a kind of ox demon, a bull`s
head, carnivore`s teeth and the body of a spider
(2)
- The
Japan Times
8/10/1928
- R.Freeman. The
Great Yokai Encyclopaedia page 357
What has Corinna's column of Fortean bird news got to do with cryptozoology?
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