OF OXEN IN GENERAL. 391 



the interior country of the East Indies, is stated 

 to measure nine feet in height,, from the point of 

 the fore foot to the shoulder. A few of the ani- 

 mals, however, and particularly the African Dwarf 

 Ox *, are remarkably small. A Bull of the latter 

 species, which was presented to the late Duke of 

 Northumberland, and allowed to run tame about 

 the kitchen at Sion-House, for several years, mea- 

 sured no more than two feet in its greatest height. 

 All the Oxen fight by pushing forward with 

 their horns, and immediately afterwards throwing 

 up their heads. They likewise often kick and 

 plunge, in a violent manner, with their feet; and, 

 when greatly irritated, there are few animals of 

 courage or strength sufficient to oppose them with 

 any chance of success. 



THE COMMON OXf. 



THERE is, I believe, no doubt that the Ox is a 

 descendant of the Bison, a large and powerful ani- 

 mal, which inhabits the marshy forests and vales 

 of Poland and Lithuania. In the lapse of many 



* Bos pumilus of Linnaeus. 



t Bos taurusdomesticus. Linnceus. Le Tuureau. Bitffbn. 

 See the Synopsis, p. 62, No. 41. 



D d 4 centuries, 



