104 BRITISH QUADRUPEDS. 



grief and rage ; they roared, they moaned, they tore the 

 ground with their feet, and bellowed the most hideous 

 chorus that can be imagined, and it was with the great- 

 est difficulty they could be driven away by men and 

 dogs. Since then, I have observed the same scene by 

 daylight, and seen large tears rolling down their cheeks. 

 Is it instinct merely ? or, does something nearer to 

 reason tell them by the blood, that one of their compa- 

 nions has been butchered ? I certainly never wish again 

 to view so painful a sight : they actually appeared to be 

 reproaching us." 



The Devon ox is very good tempered and docile ; it 

 is also unusually active, and displays great strength and 

 perseverance. Four of them are despribed to be equal 

 in work to three horses, and will trot along up to six 

 miles an hour with empty wagons in harvest. Mr. 

 Youatt says : " There is a peculiarity in driving the 

 ox team, which is very pleasing to the stranger, and the 

 remembrance of which, connected with his early days, 

 the native does not soon lose. A man and a boy attend 

 each team ; the boy chants that which can scarcely be 

 regarded as any distinct tune, but which is a very 

 pleasing succession of sounds, resembling the counter- 

 tenor in the service of a cathedral. He sings away 

 with unwearied lungs, as he trudges along almost from 



