THE COW KIND. 



239 



the whole body : however, in the woods they 

 are not so much to be feared as in the plains, 

 because in the violence of their pursuit their 

 large horus are apt to be entangled in the 

 brtnch.es of the trees, which gives those who 

 have been surprised by them time to escape 

 the danger. There is scarcely any other me- 

 thod of avoiding their pursuit; they run with 

 great swiftness; they overturn a tree of mo- 

 derate growth; and are such swimmers, as to 

 cross the largest rivers without any difficulty. 

 In this manner, like all other large animals of 

 the torrid zone, they are very fond of the wa- 

 ter; and, in the midst of their pursuit, often 

 plunge in, in order to cool themselves. The 

 negroes of Guinea, and the Indians of Mala- 

 bar, where buffaloes are in great abundance, 

 take great delight in hunting and destroying 

 them : however, they never attempt to face 

 the buffalo openly ; but, generally climbing 

 up the tree, shoot at him from thence, and do 

 not come down till they find they have effec- 

 tually despatched him. When they are tamed, 

 no animal can be more patient or humble; 

 and though by no means so docile as the cow 

 kind, yet they go through domestic drudgeries 

 with more strength and perseverance. 



Although these animals be chiefly found in 

 the torrid zone, yet they are bred in several 

 parts of Europe, particularly in Italy, where 

 they make the food and the riches of the poor. 

 The female produces but one at a time, in 

 the same manner as the cow ; but they are 

 very different in the times of gestation; for 

 the cow, as we know, goes but nine months; 

 whereas the buffalo continues pregnant for 

 twelve. They are all afraid of fire ; and, per- 

 haps, in consequence of this, have an aver- 

 sion to red colours, that resemble the colour 

 of flame: it is said, that in those countries 

 where they are found in plenty, no person 

 dares to dress in scarlet. In general they are 

 inoffensive animals, if undisturbed ; as indeed 

 all those which feed upon grass are found to 

 be ; but when they are wounded, or when 

 even but fired at, nothing then can stop their 

 fury; they then turn up the ground with their 

 fore-feet, bellow much louder and more ter- 

 ribly than the bull, and make at the object of 

 their resentment with ungovernable rage. 

 It is happy, in such circumstances, if the per- 

 son they pursue has a wall to escape over, or 



some such obstacle ; otherwise they soon 

 overtake, and instantly destroy him. It is 

 remarkable, however, that although their 

 horns are so very formidable, they in general 

 rrtnke more use of their feet in combat, and 

 nther tread their enemies to death than gore 

 them. 



Having thus gone through the history of 

 these animals, it may be proper to observe, 

 that no names have been more indiscriminate- 

 ly used than those of the bull, the urus, the 

 bison, and the buffalo. It therefore becomes 

 such as would have distinct ideas of each, to 

 be careful in separating the kinds, the one 

 from the other, allowing the cow for the stan- 

 dard of all. The urus, whether of the large 

 enormous kind of Lithuania, or the smaller 

 race of Spain, whether with long or short horns, 

 whether with or without long hair in the fore- 

 head, is every way the same with what our 

 common breed was before they were taken 

 from the forest, and reduced to a state of ser- 

 vitude. The bison, and all its varieties, which 

 are known by a hump between the shoulders, 

 is also to be ranked in the same class. This 

 animal, whether with crooked or with straight 

 horns, whether they be turned towards the 

 cheek, or totally wanting, whether it be large 

 or diminutive, whatever be its colour, or what- 

 ever the length of its hair, whether called the 

 bonasus by some, or the bubalus by others, 

 is but a variety of the cow kind, with whom 

 it breeds, and with whom of consequence it 

 has the closest connexion. Lastly, the buf- 

 falo, though shaped much more like the cow, 

 is a distinct kind by itself, that never mixes 

 with any of the former; that goes twelve 

 months with young, whereas the cow goes 

 but nine ; that testifies an aversion to the lat- 

 ter; and, though bred under the same roof, 

 or feeding in the same pasture, has always 

 kept separate; and makes a distinct race in 

 all parts of the world. These two kinds are 

 supposed, to be the only real varieties in the 

 cow kind, of which naturalists have given so 

 many varieties. With respect to some cir- 

 cumstances mentioned by travellers, such as 

 that of many kinds defending themselves by 

 voiding their dung against their pursuers; 

 this is a practice which they have in common 

 with other timid creatures when pursued, and 

 arises rather from fear than a desire of defence. 



