THE COMMON OX. 



centuries, however, its general appearance, as well 

 as its temperament and disposition, have under- 

 gone a radical change. The enormous strength of 

 body, great depth of chest and shoulders ; the 

 shagginess and length of hair which covers the 

 heacf, neck, and other fore parts of the Bison, as 

 well as his savage and gloomy disposition, are, in 

 the present animal, so altered, that the mere variety 

 would almost seem to constitute a distinct species. 

 Domestic cattle are, for the most, heavy and 

 stupid ; but at the same time exceedingly patient, 

 mild, and docile beasts. They graze, with the 

 greatest appearance of placidity, in our meadows 

 and pastures ; and, as soon as they have filled their 

 first stomach with the half masticated grass, and 

 other vegetables, they generally lie down to rumi- 

 nate, or chew it over again for digestion*. It is 

 asserted, that intense heat incommodes them much 

 more than intense cold. In the summer they seek 

 for shade, during the hot parts of the day ; or if 

 they are near a pond, or stream of water, they walk 

 into it, and stand there sometimes for many hours 

 successively. In this they have at least one im- 

 portant relief that the shade does not afford them. 

 The Gadfly -\, which deposits its eggs in the skin of 



* For an account of the rumination of Cattle, see p. 27. 

 f JEstrut Bovis of Linnaeus. 



their 



