THE WHITE URUS. 



PLATE IX. 



IN the first number of volume first of this work, we in- 

 troduced the subject of Cattle, which we continue in this 

 number, by giving a description of the White Urus, (Tau- 

 rus Urus,) and adding some very interesting accounts of 

 Bull fights and Wild Bull hunting. 



The White Urus is now only to be found in one or two 

 parks in the north of England. This very ancient breed 

 of cattle is generally believed to be the remains of the an- 

 cient stock of white cattle which were found on the island 

 when the Romans first visited it, and which they repre- 

 sented as then running wild in the woods. The chase in 

 which they browse, was formerly a park or forest attached 

 to the royal castle of Cadzow. In their general habits, 

 they resemble the fallow-deer more than any other domes- 

 tic animal. Having been exposed, without shade or cov- 

 ering of any sort, to the rigors of our climate from time 

 immemorial, they are exceedingly hardy ; and having 

 never been caught or subjected to the sway of man, they 

 are necessarily peculiarly wild and untractable. Their 

 affection for their young, like that of many other animals 

 in a wild or half-wild state, is excessive. When dropped, 

 they carefully conceal them among long grass or weeds in 

 some brushwood or thicket, and approach them cautiously 

 twice or thrice a-day, for the purpose of supplying them 

 with the necessary nourishment. On these occasions it is 

 dangerous to approach the place of their retreat, the parent 

 cow being seldom at any great distance, and always at- 

 tacking any person or animal approaching it with the 

 utmost resolution and fury. The young calves, when un- 

 expectedly approached, betray great trepidation, by throw- 

 ing their ears back close upon their necks,, and lying squat 



VOL. IL 5. 



