206 THE WHITE URUS, OR 



ginal habitation. From sixty to eighty head are kept 

 up here, a certain proportion being regularly de- 

 stroyed, to prevent the increase of the breed beyond 

 their means of support. About two- thirds of the 

 stock may be cows, the remainder bulls and oxen. 

 When becoming too numerous, they are killed, and 

 used as beef, which is nearly similar in taste and 

 flavour to that of the common kyloe. The colour 

 of this stock is white, with red ears ; and they ge- 

 nerally reach from fifty to sixty stones in weight. 

 The oxen feed heavier, and in shape and form ap- 

 proach near to the Lancashire breed, the horns be- 

 ing long, and beautifully turned. A few years ago, 

 a fine ox was fed to a large size, and was quite tame 

 and gentle. The present keeper of the park at one 

 time possessed a cow, which lie had taken when a 

 calf, in consequence of the death of its mother : it 

 was gentle, and milked as a cow, bred freely with 

 the common bull ; but the propagation was not al- 

 lowed to proceed farther, the calves being killed at 

 an early age. 



They go in herds, and on the approach of a stranger, 

 after standing to gaze, like many other wild animals, 

 wheel round him in a circle, which, if he is so impru- 

 dent as to remain, will be gradually narrowed, till an 

 attack is made. During the breeding-season, it is 

 more dangerous to approach, as the calls of the 

 young will always incite the parent or herd to at- 

 tack the aggressor. When pursued or baited, they 

 become very fierce, as they also do if but slightly 



