DIFFERENT BREEDS OF OXEN. 97 



seen which is altogether white with the exception of a few black 

 hairs about the head. The Forfar horned cattle have shorter 

 legs, thicker shoulders, rounder carcases, straighter backs, and, 

 carry the head more elegantly than the Aberdeenshire cattle. 

 The horns are shorter, better proportioned, curved upwards and 

 forwards, and sharper at the points. We shall give a brief 

 account of the Angus polled cattle under the heading of 

 "Polled Cattle." 



The "wild ox '' now met with only in a few parks, as at Chil- 

 lingham and Hamilton, is probably a descendant of the original 

 bovine animals which inhabited many forest districts in Britain, 

 and particularly those of the north of England and the south of 

 Scotland. The wild oxen of Chillingham are much smaller than 

 many of the domestic breeds; they have a graceful form, and are 

 possessed of sharp horns which are neither very long nor greatly 

 curved. Every calf which is not perfectly white is destroyed, 

 and thus this white colour is becoming still more general. 

 The habits of these wild oxen are very similar to those of 

 the domesticated races. According to Mr. Culley, these 

 oxen cannot be tamed, and consequently can only be kept 

 within walls or good fences. The colour of the wild cattle of 

 Chillingham Castle is cream white, but their muzzles are black. 

 The whole of the inside of the ear as well as about one-third of 

 the outside from the tips downwards is red, the horns are white, 

 very fine, bent upwards, and provided with black tips. Some of 

 the bulls are possessed of a thin and upright mane, which is 

 about an inch and a half or two inches in length. The males 

 weigh about 40 stones, and the cows about 30 stones (14 pounds 

 being reckoned to the stone). The beef is finely marbled, and 

 of excellent quality. 



It is very advisable to keep at a distance from these animals. 

 The cows hide their calves for about a week or ten days in some 

 sequestered situation, and to this they repair twice or thrice 

 every day for the purpose of suckling them. If any person 

 should approach these little animals, they clap their heads 

 close to the ground and lie down like hares to hide themselves; 

 or perhaps, if irritated, they bolt at the legs of anyone who may 

 be near, with all the force at their command. Moreover, the 

 dams, if they see anyone touching their calves, will rush to the 

 attack with headlong impetuosity. Again, if any one of a herd 



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