44 THE OX TRIBE. 



M. Dimitri de Dolmatoff, Master of the Imperial 

 Forests in the Government of Grodno, in his note of the 

 capture of the Aurochs, (written in 1847,) alludes to the 

 statement (made by every writer who has treated of these 

 animals), that the calves, although taken young, invariably 

 refuse to be suckled by the Domestic Cow. This he 

 contradicts in the most explicit manner, on the testimony 

 of his own experience, having had several instances come 

 under his observation, in which the young calves of 

 the Aurochs were suckled and reared by cows of the 

 common domestic species. 



Caesar, in his account of the " Sylva Hercynia" the 

 Black Forest thus mentions the Urus, amongst other 

 animals, there found : 



" A third kind [of animals] are those called Uri. They 

 are but little less than Elephants in size, and are of the 

 species, colour, and form of a bull. Their strength is 

 very great, and also their speed. They spare neither man 

 nor beast that they see. They cannot be brought to 

 endure the sight of men, nor be tamed, even when taken 

 young. The people who take them in pit-falls, assiduously 

 destroy them ; and young men harden themselves in this 

 labour, and exercise themselves in this kind of chase ; and 

 those who have killed a great number the horns being 

 publicly exhibited in evidence of the fact obtain great 

 honour. The horns, in amplitude, shape, and species, 

 differ much from the horns of our oxen. They are much 

 sought after ; and after having been edged with silver at 

 their mouths, they are used for drinking vessels at great 

 feasts." (De Bello Gallico, lib. vi.) 



