HISTORY. 241 



The peculiar colour and marking which this race assumes 

 and retains in the English parks, has been supposed by some 

 to indicate a distinction of species, But colour, as is well 

 known to naturalists, is one of the external characters of ani- 

 mals the least to be regarded as indicative of specific dis- 

 tinctions ; and, in the case of these oxen, it has been seen that 

 the character itself is not constant. It may seem remark- 

 able that these animals, in their wild state, should be all 

 white, with coloured muzzles and ears ; but this is not 

 more remarkable than that Boars, in the wild state, should 

 be brown, or Turkeys in the wild state black, with white 

 tips to their wings. The colour, we may suppose, is that 

 which the animals tended to assume in a wooded country in 

 the climate of Albion. Under other conditions of tempera- 

 ture and food, the colour of the same variety might become 

 black, with a peculiar marking equally constant. An ancient 

 writer, speaking of Uri in the woods of Poland, describes 

 them as black, with a white streak along the chine. In the 

 North Highlands of Scotland, the prevailing colour of the 

 cattle is black : but sometimes individuals are born white, 

 with coloured ears and muzzle, so nearly resembling the Wild 

 Cattle of the parks, that they would be mistaken for them. 



The habits of the wild race have been supposed to present 

 an impassable distinction between it and the tame ; but this 

 difference assuredly does not constitute a distinction of species. 

 It is known that the instincts and habits of animals are suited 

 to the condition in which they are placed, and change with 

 -that condition. The Wild Hog, a bold and powerful creature 

 in his state of liberty, is no sooner submitted to domestica- 

 tion, than his habits adapt themselves to his new condition, 

 and he communicates to his offspring all the habits which 

 fit them for a state of slavery ; and so it is with other 

 animals subjected to domestication. The Wild Oxen of 

 the parks, breeding solely with one another, and living, in 

 so far as their confined condition will allow, in the natural 



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