678 QUADRUPEDS. 



give credit to the relation ; having seen in the woods of Drumlan- 

 rig, in North Britain, and in the park belonging to Chillingham 

 castle, in Northumberland, herds of cattle probably derived from 

 the savage breed. They have lost their manes ; but retain their 

 colour and fierceness : they were of a middle size, long legged, 

 and had black muzzles and ears : their horns fine, and with a bold 

 and elegant bend. The keeper of those at Chillingham said that 

 the weight of the ox was 38 stone : of the cow 28 : that their 

 hides were more esteemed by the tanners than those of the tarne ; 

 and they would give six-pence per stone more for them. These 

 cattle were wild as any deer : on being approached would instant- 

 ly take to flight and gallop away at full speed : never mix with the 

 tame species ; nor come near the house, unless constrained by hun- 

 ger in very severe weather. When it is necessary to kill any, they 

 are always shot ; if the keeper only wounds the beast, he must 

 take care to keep behind some tree, or his life would be in danger 

 from the furious attacks of the animal ; which will never desist till 

 a period is put to its life. 



Frequent mention is made of 'our savage cattle by historians. 

 One relates that Robert Bruce was (in chasing these animals) pre- 

 served from the rage of a wild bull by the intrepidity of one of 

 his courtiers, from which he and his lineage acquired the name 

 of Turn-bull. Fitz -Stephen names these animals ( Uri Sylvestres) 

 among those that harboured in the great forest that in his time lay 

 adjacent to London. Another enumerates, among the provisions 

 at the great feast of Nevil, archbishop of York, six wild bulls ; 

 and Sibbald assures us, that in his days a wild and white species 

 was found in the mountains of Scotland, but agreeing in form with 

 the common sort. I believe these to have been the Bisontes 

 jubati of Pliny, found then in Germany, and might have been 

 common to the continent and our islands ; the loss of their savage 

 vigour by confinement might occasion some change in the exter- 

 nal appearance, as is frequent with wild animals deprived of li- 

 berty ; and to that we may ascribe their loss of manes. The Urus 

 of the Hercynian forest described by Caesar, book VI. was of this 

 kind, the same which is called by the modern Germans, Aurochs^ 

 i. e. Bos sylvestris. 



The ox is the only horned animal in these islands that will apply 

 his strength to the service of mankind. It is now generally allow- 

 ed, that in many cases oxen are more profitable in the draught than 

 horses ; their food, harness, and shoes being cheaper, and should 



