34 PKAIEIE AND FOEEST. 



bulls take place ; their actions on these occasions remind 

 the spectators very much of domestic cattle. The com- 

 batants at first stand apart, eyeing each other with flashing 

 orbs, while they paw up the soil with their feet, throwing 

 it frequently over their withers ; their short tails lash their 

 sides, their horns are dug into the soil, and the vegetation 

 scattered to the winds ; occasionally bellowing in a low 

 guttural voice, apparently using every effort to work them- 

 selves into a fury. At length they rush at each other ; the 

 shock sometimes brings one or both to their knees ; this 

 is repeated again and again ; for over thirty minutes 

 frequently, when well matched, the struggle will be pro- 

 tracted. At length the weaker commences to give way, 

 first slowly, always keeping his head to the foe, till with 

 sudden energy he wheels and leaves the victor triumphant. 

 All this time the cow has stood by, an inert spectator, 

 waiting for the hero of the hour to claim hqr love. These 

 battles seldom or never terminate fatally. They occur at 

 the period when the coat is in the greatest perfection, and 

 the almost impenetrable mane which densely covers the 

 brows and fore-quarters is unquestionably of the greatest 

 service as a protection. It is my belief that when the 

 sexes thus mate, the male remains faithful to his spouse, 

 for up to within a month of the cow's confinement both 

 keep together. Early in autumn the bulls are in good 

 condition ; but after the rutting season they gradually lose 

 flesh, and by midwinter become so poor that they are 

 scarcely fit for food. The cow, on the other hand, keeps 

 fat, and even in spring fat may be found along the verte- 

 bra and lower portion of the carcase an inch thick. With 



