420 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 
bullock was not white, because this colour is the worst, according 
to Mascall, who writes—‘“ For oxen to labour, the blacke ox and the 
red ox are best, and the browne or greezeled ox are next; the white 
ox is worst of all colours.” Mascall further writes—‘“ Wilde oxen 
are better to beare a burden then to labour, for they are never 
so free nor so strong to drawe and labour as the tame oxen are.” 
Wild oxen here seems to mean “pack oxen.” Once again the 
various races are noted, Mascall stating that there are “many 
diversities in the beasts, as in Italy, in Capam, there they haue 
white oxen, and of small body, yet verie good to labour in the 
plough and till the ground. Also, in the Dutchy of Urben, there 
are great oxen, both white and red, mightie of body and of a 
great courage. In Tuscane and about Rome the oxen are well 
set and thicke, and strong made to labour. Likewise in the Alpes 
and hils of Burgony they be strong and can well endure all 
labour, and faire likewise withall.” 
I think Mascall’s references to races of white oxen show that 
those familiar with English cattle in his day were also familiar 
with the prominent white breeds on the Continent. As I note 
further on, during this century the flesh of a “white wild ox” 
was considered in England a suitable present for one nobleman 
to give another. 
Ed. Topsell, in his Historie of Fowre-footed Beasts, gives 
illustrations of the skull and horns of the ‘“‘ Bonassus,” according to 
the three drawings of “that excellent Phisitian of England, Iohn 
Cay.” These are the skulls and horns of the Bos primigenius, 
and are similar to those given by Gesner. Of the bull, Topsell 
writes—‘ They are plentiful in most countries, as is said in the 
discourse of oxen; but the best sort are in Epirus, next in 
Thracia, and then Italy, Syria, England, Macedonia, Phrigia, and 
Belgia.” Of the ‘“ Ure-ox,” which is “of a reddish colour,” he 
writes that ‘they are a kind of wilde oxen, not differing from the 
vulgar but in their colour, and a spotted strake or line, which 
goeth al along their backs; and those ure oxen are kept as it 
were in parkes and chases.” Here we have the distinct statement 
that the oxen kept in ‘‘parkes and chases” were “of a reddish 
colour.” 
In Gervase Markham’s Cheape and Good Husbandry we get 
evidence as to the colour of “ English cattell.” From the way he 

