HISTORY. 245 



While the female is thus gentle and humble, the bull re- 

 tains much of the natural fierceness of his race. He scarcely 

 fears an enemy, and is easily excited to rage. He can be 

 reduced to subjection by the effects of discipline, and made 

 to assist in all the labours of the field ; but yet his passions 

 are often suddenly excited, and his great strength may be 

 dangerously exerted. But, by depriving him of his virile 

 powers, all the native ferocity of his race disappears, and he 

 becomes as submissive as the heifer. It is then that he gives 

 us the benefit of his vast strength, exempt from the danger of 

 his natural temperament, bending his neck to patient toil, 

 and grazing with content in his allotted pastures. 



We are apt to associate with the character of this useful 

 creature, ideas of apathy, and want of intelligence. But the 

 brain of the Ox is larger than that of the Horse ; and, though 

 he is far inferior to that noble creature in spirit and grace, 

 it is questionable if he falls short of him in sagacity. The 

 bull has been known to charge himself with the guardianship 

 of the herd, to keep them from wandering into forbidden 

 pastures, and to protect from intruders their allotted bound- 

 aries. When beasts of prey approach, he is at the post of 

 danger, marshalling the herd into a phalanx, and placing the 

 young in the centre and rear. 



When the season of sexual desire arrives, fierce combats 

 ensue between the rival bulls. Their eyes sparkle with rage, 

 and they rush upon one another with desperate force. But 

 their fury is given, not for the purpose of mutual destruction, 

 but for an end connected with the preservation of the health 

 and vigour of the race. It is necessary that the strongest 

 males should propagate the race, to preserve it from feebleness 

 and degeneracy. They contend with the powerful strength 

 and arms with which Nature has supplied them, for the mas- 

 tery of the herd. But they do not seek to shed each other's 

 blood. The vanquished yield to the law of superior strength, 

 and the most powerful assumes his fitting place. 



In the vast plains of South America, where the emanci- 



