42 MARVELS OF THE ANIMAL WORLD 



the base of the creature's horns, and to attach the 

 free end to a large iron ring which was fixed firmly 

 in the ground. In order that the bull's horns should 

 not damage the dogs, it was the custom to cover 

 them with wooden sheaths. Bull rings are still to 

 be seen in various places, and many of my readers 

 may be familiar with the one which is situated in 

 the High Street at Brading, Isle of Wight. 



A somewhat similar sport to bull-baiting was 

 that of bull-running ; but from all accounts the 

 practice was only indulged in on one day of the 

 year, namely, that which happened to be exactly 

 six weeks before Christmas Day. The local butcher 

 supplied a bull for the purpose of the sport, and on 

 the morning chosen for the baiting of the unfor- 

 tunate creature the town crier would parade the 

 streets and order everybody to close their gates and 

 doors, and announce that no one, when chasing the 

 bull, was to make use of a club or staff which was 

 tipped with iron. Everything having been prepared, 

 the bull was let loose into the streets, and the people 

 and their dogs would then commence to chase the 

 animal, working themselves up into such a state 

 of excitement that, as one writer expresses himself : 

 * One would think them to be so many Furies started 

 out from Hell.' 



That these brutal forms of amusement must have 

 had a very injurious effect upon those who took 

 part in them there can be no doubt ; and although 

 we are able to say at the present day that such 

 practices are no longer allowed, yet, nevertheless, 

 much remains to be done in order to ensure that 



