THE COMMON OX. .7? 



Wild cattle. 



firty-five stone, and of the cows, from twenty- 

 five to thirty-five, 14lb. to the stone. Their flesh 

 is said to be finely marbled, and of a peculiarly 

 excellent flavour. 



When these animals perceive any person ap- 

 proaching them, they set off in full gallop, and 

 at the distance of two or three hundred yards 

 wheel round and come boldly up again, tossing 

 their heads in a menacing manner. They then 

 stop suddenly at the distance of forty or fifty 

 yards, and look wildly at the object of their sur- 

 prise ; but, on the least motion, they all turn 

 round, and gallop off again with equal speed, but 

 to a shorter distance ; forming a smaller circle, 

 and again returning with a more threatening 

 aspect than before, they approach much nearer, 

 probably within thirty yards, when they make 

 another stand, and again gallop off. This they 

 repeat several times, shortening their distance, 

 and advancing nearer, till they come within a 

 few yards, when it is advisable to leave them, as 

 in a few turns more they would probably make 

 tin attack. 



The ancient mode of killing these animals was 

 very singular. On notice being given that a 

 wild bull would be killed on a certain day, the 

 inhabitants of the neighbourhood assembled, 

 sometimes to the number of a hundred horse- 

 men, and four or five hundred foot, all armed 

 with guns or other weapons. Those on foot 

 stood upon the walls, or got into trees, vyhile the 



