236 THE OX. 



Duke of Queensberry : those at the noble park of Hamilton 

 are yet in existence, preserved with care. They have lost 

 the thick mane ascribed to them by the early writers, and 

 the females have generally become destitute of horns ; but 

 all their other characters shew them indubitably to be the 

 descendants of the ancient race. They are of the size of the 

 cattle of the West Highlands: they are of a dun white 

 colour ; and the muzzle, the inside of the ears, the tongue, and 

 the hoofs, are black. They are very wild, and cautious of being 

 approached ; and when suddenly come upon, they scamper 

 off, turn round as if to examine the intruder, and generally 

 gallop in circles, as if meditating an attack. They are not, 

 however, vicious, though some of the bulls have manifested 

 the savage and dogged temper of their race. Some persons 

 have been pursued to trees. One poor bird-catcher, we are 

 informed by Mr Patrick, when exercising his trade in the 

 forest, was attacked by a savage bull : he had time to save 

 himself by climbing up a tree ; and he had there an opportu- 

 nity of observing the habits of his assailant. The furious 

 creature seemed to quiver with rage, and frequently attacked 

 the tree with his head and hoofs. Finding his efforts vain, he 

 left off the attempt, and began to browse at some distance. 

 The prisoner then tried to descend, that he mightjmake his 

 escape ; but the watchful brute was at his post in an instant, 

 and the poor man was not relieved until after many hours, 

 on assistance arriving. Another individual was attacked on 

 a summer evening : he was fortunate in reaching a tree, but 

 was watched by the implacable brute throughout the whole 

 night, and until late on the following day. These examples 

 are remarkable, shewing, in the Wild Ox, that savage, per- 

 tinacious, and implacable temper, which we know some others 

 of the Bovine family display in their state of nature. The 

 females conceal their calves amongst thickets or long grass, 

 returning to them cautiously twice or thrice in the day, to 

 suckle them. The little creatures exhibit the instincts of 

 their race: when suddenly approached, they manifest extreme 

 trepidation, throwing their ears close back upon their necks, 



