AUitocns.] 



CATTLi:, AM) TUKlii VAiaETlI-S. 



[auhociis. 



elongated, so as to form n scanty beard. Con- 

 sideriii":: the massive proportious of iIiIh fieico 

 tenant of the wilua of Soutliern Africa, it pos- 

 sesses no inconsiderable share of Heetness ; and 

 when pursued by the hunter, it tears through 

 the thicket and up the niountain-siJo witli 

 surprising impetuosity. 2\ot unfre(juently, 

 however, it returns to the attack ; so tliat it is 

 not to bo encountered without the utmost 

 caution, and the means of escape at hand. 

 Many are the fatal accidents, and tlio narrow 

 escapes from death, recorded by the various 

 travellers who have penetrated the country of 

 the Cape bulValo. The bellowing of the aui- 

 nial, when wounded — his fury, as he tears up 

 the earth with his horns, and his efforts to re- 

 venge himself upon his foes, before he sinks 

 expiring, are described as terrific. 



It is the general opinion of the natives of 

 South Africa, that though the lion frequently 

 attacks the buffalo, bo cannot overcome it by 

 dint of strength, but has recourse to stratagem, 

 lying in ambush near some stream where the 

 beast comes to drink. They say that the lion 

 springs upon its back, drives his tremendous 

 claws into the nape of the neck, and the sides 

 of his victim, tearing and mangling the buffalo 

 till it falls and dies. At other times, they 

 affirm that the iiou darts suddenly upon the 

 buffalo, fastens on its chest and neck, lacerating 

 and squeezing the mouth and nose with his 

 fore paws, till, half suffocated, and exhausted 

 by vain efforts and loss of blood from deep 

 wounds, it expires. The lion, however, does 

 not always make these attacks with impunity, 

 for his carcass is sometimes found gored and 

 trampled, evidently by buffaloes, the herd 

 having come to the rescue of their companion. 

 An allied species, the Jjos Ferjasus of H. Smith, 

 is found iu Western Africa. 



THE AUROCHS, OR ZUBR. 

 The genus Bison, Bison JEuropaus (Bos 

 urus of Gmelin), is a noble species, existing 

 in the great forest of Bialowicza (pronounced 

 Bealawezha in Poland), in Lithuania, where 

 it is protected by stringent laws. In propor- 

 tions, the auroch is robust, and its withers 

 are massive and elevated. The largest males 

 stand about six feet high at the shoulders. 

 The hair is of two sorts : one is solt, woolly, 

 and short, covering the whole trunk and limbs ; 

 4 L 



i thei other is long and rough, covering the 

 upper part and sides of tiie head, the neeic, 

 I and shoulder.-*, where it forms a inane ; under 

 I the lower jaw, and along the throat lu tlio 

 ' chest, it is lengthened into a sort of beard, lu 

 I old bulls tlio mano is often a foot in length, 

 and is tiuckest in November. Tiie eyes aro 

 I small, but fierce and sparkling when the aniiiml 

 I is irritated. The tongue, lips, and palate aro 

 : blue. The tail, which is short, is furni.shed 

 I with a tuft of stiff hairs at its extremity. Aa 

 j odour, described as between that of musk and 

 violets, is exhaled from the skin ; especiallv 

 from that part of the skin covering the con- 

 vexity of the forehead. It is stronger in tlio 

 male than the leinale, and may be perceived at 

 the distance of a hundred yards from the herd. 

 The flesh of this animal is highly esteemed ; but, 

 when roasted, is said to have a bluish tinge. 

 Its voice is a deep, short grunt, which can bo 

 heard at a considerable distance. 



Thickets, near the swampy banks of rivers, 

 are the favourite resorts of the aurochs ; but 

 in summer, and during the warmer portion of 

 autumn, according to Dr. Weissenborn, the 

 herds select sandy spots. In winter, they 

 keep quiet by day iu the thickest part of the 

 fir-wood, only browsing by night, and finding 

 sustenance iu the bark of young trees. la 

 spring, they visit spots where the herbaceous 

 plants they relish begin to sprout. They are 

 fond of tree licheus. "The strength," says 

 Dr. Weissenborn, " of the zubr is enormous, 

 and trees of live or six inches in diameter 

 cannot withstand the thrusts of old bulls. It 

 is neither afraid of the wolf nor bear, and 

 assails its enemies both with its horns and 

 hoofs. Au old zubr is a match for four wolves. 

 Packs of the latter animal, however, some- 

 times hunt down even old bulls when alone ; 

 but a herd of zubrs has nothing to fear from 

 any rapacious animal. Notwithstanding the 

 great bulk of its body, it can ruu very swiftly. 

 In galloping, its hoofs are raised above its 

 head, which it carries very low. It has, how- 

 ever, but little bottom, and seldom runs larther 

 than one or two English miles. It swims 

 with great agility, and is very fond of bathing. 

 In its habits it is exceedingly shy, and avoid^^ 

 the sight of man. It can only be approached 

 from the leeward, as its sense of smell is ex- 

 tremely acute. But when accidentally and 



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