530 HISTOUY OF 



Having thus gone through the history of these animals, it 

 may be proper to observe, that no names have been more indis- 

 criminately used than those of the bull, the urus, the bison, and 

 the buffalo. It therefore becomes such as would have distinct 

 ideas of each to be careful in separating the kinds, the one from 

 the other, allowing the cow for the standard of all. The urus, 

 whether of the large enormous kind of Lithuania, or the smaller 

 race of Spain, whether with long or short horns, whether with 

 or without long hair in the forehead, is every way the same with 

 what our common breed was before they were taken from the 

 forest, and reduced to a state of servitude. The bison and all 

 its varieties, which are known by a hump between the shoulders, 

 is^also to be ranked in the same class. This animal, whether 

 with crooked or with straight horns, whether they be turned to- 

 wards the cheek, or totally wanting, whether it be large or di- 

 minutive, whatever be its colour, or whatever the length of its 

 hair, whether called the bonasus by some, or the bubalus by 

 others, is but a variety of the cow kind, with whom it breeds, 

 and with whom of consequence it has the closest connexion. 

 Lastly, the buffalo, though shaped much more like the cow, is 

 a distinct kind by itself, that never mixes with any of the for- 

 mer; that goes twelve months with young, whereas the cow 

 goes but nine ; that testities an aversion to the latter ; and, 

 though bred under the same roof, or feeding in the same pasture, 

 has always kept separate ; and makes a distinct race in all parts 

 of the world. These two kinds are supposed to be the only 

 real varieties in the cow kind, of which naturalists have given so 

 many varieties. With respect to some circumstances mentioned 

 by travellers, such as that of many kinds defending themselves, 

 by voiding their dung against their pursuers ; this is a practice 

 which they have in common with other timid creatures when 

 pursued, and arises rather from fear than a desire of defence. 

 The musky smell also by which some have been distinguished, 

 is found common to many of these kinds, in a state of nature : 

 and does not properly make the characteristic marks of any. 

 The particular kind of noise also, which some of them are known 

 to make, which rather resembles grunting than bellowing or 

 lowing, is but a savage variety, which many wild animals have, 

 and yet lose when brought into a state of tameness. P''or these 

 reasons, Mr Buifon, whom I have followed in this description, 



