WHITE FOREST BREED. 107 



In prehistoric times, a continuous range of enor- 

 mous forests covered the whole extent of the coun- 

 try, and the gigantic and fierce cattle roaming through 

 the chase 5 fed on the tender branches and buds, the 

 catkins of birch, hazel, sallow, and other species of 

 willow, 6 resembling in this matter of feeding the 

 moose of the Canadian forests. We have reason to 

 suppose that the ancient islanders introduced the 

 rudiments of a pastoral life, while yet living in pits 

 incovered with boughs and skins, 7 yet no evidence 

 leads to the conclusion that the native Britons had 

 domesticated the great oxen of the country, although 

 undoubtedly they formed a source of food. 8 In 

 Switzerland, on the contrary, the lake dwellers had 

 succeeded in taming these formidable brutes. 9 



We have it stated by Darwin, that Bos primigenius 

 existed as a wild animal in Caesar's time. 10 There is 

 a record of white cattle in the tenth century, resem- 

 bling those in the Scottish parks, existing in Wales, 

 where they were more valued than black cattle. 11 

 Boethius, in 1526, mentions them as then existing near 

 Stirling. " At this toun began the grit wod of Cal- 

 idou. This wod of Calidon ran fra Striveling throw 

 Menteith and Stratherne to Atholl and Lochquabir, 

 as Ptolome writtis in his first table. In this wod 

 wes sum time quhit bullis, with crisp and curland 

 mane, like feirs lionis, and thoucht thay semit meek 



s Prehistoric Scotland, Wilson's. 



Nilsson, An. & Mag of Nat. Hist. 1849, iv, 269. 



7 Prehistoric Scotland, i, 296. 



8 Ibid, i, 31. 



9 Lyell's Antiq. of Man. Phila. 1863, p. 24. 



10 Animals and Plants under Domestication, i, 104. 



11 Low's Animals, 2i. 



