NATURAL HISTORY. 



123 



Order V ..... UNGULATA.(Lat. possessing hoofs.) 

 Family I Bovidw. (Lat. Bos, an ox. Ox kind.) 



Sub-family a. . Bovina. 



ros. 



Taurus (Lat, a Bull), the Ox. 



in England, and bull-rings, that is, large iron rings firmly fixed 

 in the ground, may be seen in the market-place of many 

 towns. The poor bull was fastened to the ring by a strong 

 rope, and mangled by the repeated attacks of large and fierce 

 dogs. Sometimes the rope did not prove strong enough to 

 restrain his frantic struggles, and the tortured animal chased 

 and scattered the terrified spectators. In Spain, bull-baiting 

 is a very popular sport. The Spaniards do not confine the 

 animal with a rope, but turn him loose into a large arena, 

 where several men, armed with spears and darts, first goad 

 him into madness, and then slaughter him. The death of 

 the bull is, however, considered as a compliment due to the 

 valour and endurance of the animal ; for if a bull is soon 

 overcome, or refuses to attack his opponents, he is driven out 

 of the arena amid the hisses of the spectators, and suffered to 

 prolong an ignominou? existence. 



