UNGULATA 331 



THE OX. 



''Stupid as an ox" is an expression full of meaning 

 when applied to domesticated species of cattle that are 

 only fattened to be destroyed. As Professor David Low 

 says, in his Domesticated Animals of the British Islands, 

 " Nature is sparing of her mental gifts, giving to each 

 creature only that which is fit for its condition." What 

 benefit would consciousness of danger, docility, or the 

 knowledge of what is good for it, be to a creature that 

 only lives to be tied to a stall, or driven to the pasture 

 to be fattened for the slaughter-house? 



"The wild Oxen that have never been reduced to 

 slavery, or those who on the fertile plains and in the wilder- 

 ness have regained their liberty, are altogether different 

 creatures from the apathetic beasts of burden that their 

 domesticated kin have become. They are wary in danger, 

 resolute in defending themselves, and fearless in protect- 

 ing the helpless members of their herds. When the 

 Hottentots still had a country they could call their own, 

 and w r ere rich in the possession of vast numbers of cattle, 

 chosen oxen guarded their flocks and herds, and pro- 

 tected them from marauders and the Hyaenas and other 

 beasts of prey ; and so great was the intelligence of 

 these creatures that while any inhabitant of the Kraal 

 could safely approach their charges, a stranger attempt- 

 ing to do so would have been in great danger of his life. 

 Not only were they taught to be the guardians and pro- 

 tectors of the flocks of their owners, but some of them 

 were trained for war until they caught the spirit of their 

 masters, and in the clash of contending hosts rushed 

 upon the opposing ranks, and trampled the enemy under 

 their feet, and gored them with their horns." 



Although Domestic Cattle are all spoken of as belonging 

 to one species (Bos-taurus), instead of springing from 

 one common source, now extinct, there are really many local 

 races, produced by artificial selection from various wild 

 species. The seventeen distinct breeds on the British 

 Islands, many of which have been introduced into this 

 country, are so different from one another that if they 

 were wild animals they would be divided into a number 



