372 



BOVID^. 



black ears. They are said to have become much tamer 

 since the introduction among them of some tame white 

 heifers, but were formerly very wild and even dangerous. 

 A skull in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons 

 presents the general character of the primigenius race, but 

 the long, low, spreading horns differ widely from the 

 lyrate form of those of the Chillingham and Cadzow 

 Cattle. A very ancient tradition regards the birth of a 

 parti-coloured or black Calf in this herd as an omen of 

 the approaching death of some member of the proprietor's 

 family, and several curious coincidences have fully con- 

 firmed the country people in the belief. 



The Wild Cattle of our parks, when pure bred, are 

 characterized especially by the form of their horns, which 

 may be described as curving first backward and upward 

 and then sweeping forward and downward, while the 

 points turn upward. In the skull the forehead is flat, or 

 slightly concave, and the occipital ridge between the horns 

 is straight and level. In form these Cattle are beautifully 

 shaped, with small heads, straight backs, and short legs. 

 Their colour is white except the ears and muzzle, which 

 are either red or black, according to the breed. The 

 horns are white with black tips. 



