296 BOARD OF ACxRICULTURE. • ' 



fine weather, they can hear the light step of these animals at a 

 considerable distance, and hurry to the sheds bellowing loudly. 

 If tied, they rattle their chains constantly, till the herdsmen 

 are aroused to the danger. The bear always tries to pounce 

 upon them from behind, for the half-grown heifer will defend 

 herself with her horns if necessary. If the bear succeeds in 

 falling upon a cow, and begins to devour her, the scattered herd 

 quickly rushes round and watches the process, keeping their 

 horns low, snorting and bellowing from time to time, as if they 

 would like to pitch into him. The bear, it is said, will not stop 

 to finish his meal in this case, and will not venture another 

 attack. During a long rain or thick fog the scent of the cattle 

 is not so acute, and instances are known of bears, lurking close 

 to the huts, attacking heifers and devouring or carrying them 

 off without alarming the rest of the herd. Notwithstanding 

 the familiarity of the cowherd with his cattle, and the alacrity 

 with which they answer his call, there are, almost every sum- 

 mer, times when utter anarchy reigns among the herds, and he 

 hardly knows how to keep them in subjection. This happens 

 during storms in the night, which are hours of great anxiety 

 and terror to all the inhabitants of the Alps. 



The cows, tired with the heat and labor of the day, are, per- 

 haps, enjoying their first repose in the vicinity of the huts and 

 herdsmen, when the horizorx is suddenly lighted up, and, for a 

 few minutes, the neighboring snow fields appear as if overflow- 

 ing with molten lava. A heavy mass of clouds lowers over the 

 mountain peaks, a few light flashes chase each other from the 

 west in quivering succession, while a deathlike stillness reigns 

 in the distant valleys. The cows wake up and become restive. 

 Hot breezes sweep through the cliffs or rustle gently between 

 the rhododendrons and low mountain pines. Soon the glacier 

 streams spring into life ; a hollow rumbling is heard in the 

 distance ; the upper currents of air meet and struggle, and the 

 lightning becomes every instant more red and vivid as it plays 

 around the loftiest peaks. Then the cows rise, the bell-cow 

 bellows and gives the signal to march, and in a short time the 

 whole herd is collected around the chrdct. It is oppressively 

 hot and a few drops fall on the roof, beneath which the cow- 

 herd is still slumbering quietly. Suddenly a lurid flash blazes 

 out from the nearest cloud, followed by a loud clap of thunder. 



