igo THE BUFFALO, &c. 



If it be afked, whether the aurochs or the 

 bifon be the primitive race of oxen, a fatisfactory 

 antwer may be obtained by drawing conclufions 

 from the fads already related. The bunch of 

 the bifon, as formerly remarked, is an acciden- 

 tal character only, which is effaced by the com- 

 mixture of the two races. The aurochs, or ox 

 without a bunch, is, therefore, the moft power- 

 ful and predominant race. Were it otherwife, 

 the bunch, inllead of difappearing, would extend, 

 andfubfrft in all the individuals proceeding from 

 a mixture of the two races. Belides, this bunch 

 of the bifon, like that of the camel, is not {o 

 much a production of nature, as an effect of la- 

 bour, and a badge of flavery. In all ages, and 

 in every country, the oxen have been obliged to 

 carry burdens. Their backs, by conftant and 

 often exceffive loads, have been deformed ; and 

 this deformity was afterwards tranfmitted by ge- 

 neration. There remained no oxen without this 

 deformity, except in thofe countries where 

 they were not employed in carrying burdens. 

 Throughout all Africa and the Eaft, the oxen 

 are bunched ; becaufe, at all periods, they have 

 carried loads on their fhoulders. In Europe, 

 where they are employed in the draught only, 

 they have not undergone this deformed change, 

 which is probably occafioned, in the firft place, 

 by the compreflion of the loads, and, in the fe- 

 cond, by a redundance of nourifhment ; for it 

 difappears when the animal is meager and ill 



fed. 



