WILD CATTLE. 149 



what gentled, either by the ' softening influence of a 

 higher civilisation,' or by hard driving ; and, judging from 

 newspaper items, the real or homicidal Texan, who killed 

 his man every few days just to keep his hand in, is less 

 plentiful now than in the ' good old times.' 



The tame cow is nearly as dangerous as the bull ; 

 while in its wild state, the cow, except in defence of her 

 calf, is as timid as a deer. The wild bull is ' on his 

 muscle ' at all times ; and though he will generally get out 

 of the way if unmolested, the slightest provocation will 

 convert him into a most aggressive and dangerous 

 enemy. 



The wild cattle are not found in herds. A few cows 

 and their calves may associate together for mutual protec- 

 tion, but the bulls are almost always found alone. Should 

 two meet, a most desperate combat determines the mastery 

 then and there, very frequently with the life of one of the 

 combatants. 



He who would enjoy the favours of a cow must win 

 his way to them by a series of victories. The result of 

 this is that the number of bulls is greatly disproportioned 

 to the number of cows ; and this disproportion is increased 

 by the fact that it seems impossible for the bull to keep 

 his mouth shut, and when not actually eating he is bel- 

 lowing, or moaning, or making some hideous noise which 

 indicates his whereabouts to the hunter. 



Among buffalo there are more bulls than cows ; 

 among wild cattle there is probably one bull to thirty 

 cows. 



The buffalo and domestic cattle will cross, 1 success- 

 fully, however, only when the buffalo cow is the mother 

 of the mule. The domestic cow will receive the attentions 



1 This has been denied. I am, however, positively assured by officers 

 who have seen the animals that there were several specimens of the cross to 

 be seen in 1874, on the farms on the Republican and its tributaries. I am 

 also informed that several authentic instances are recorded in the United 

 States Patent Office Reports. 



