DOMESTIC AND SEMI-DOMESTIC ANIMALS 33 



cated breeds known to every one. It grazes for the most part during 

 the silent watches of the night, resorts to the habit of hiding its 

 young, and when unduly interfered with, or alarmed, exhibits a 

 fierce disposition which enables one to conjure up some idea of the 

 habits of its ancient relatives. 



That the historic Wild Ox of Europe, known as the Urus as well 

 as Aurochs, was a bold, courageous beast during the Roman era is 

 evidenced by the data handed down to us by the indomitable Julius 

 Caesar, for he records that a man's prowess was recognized by the 

 number of horns he had managed to secure in the chase. 



The bull shown in Fig. 23 came from the Chartley herd in 

 Staffordshire, and the Zoological Society state that it is believed to 

 be as nearly genuine as any, as "it is known that these cattle are 

 the direct descendants of the wild cattle which roamed at large in 

 the Forest of Needwood in 1248," whilst the cow that is exhibited in 

 the Regent's Park collection came from the fine beasts located at 

 Vaynol Park, Bangor. These two animals have mated successfully, 

 producing calves which are, of course, of mixed blood. 



From remains that have been discovered in various parts of 

 England and the Continent, it is evident that the great Caesar was 

 no mere adventurer or romancer when he described the Aurochs of 

 old as being little less than the Elephant in size. A skull that came 

 under the notice of the writer, for example, bore upon it horns which 

 in their original condition must have measured at least four feet 

 from tip to tip, whilst other specimens that have been discovered 

 from time to time have considerably exceeded these dimensions, if 

 not in the span occupied by the horns, then certainly by the 

 immensity of the skull. 



These intensely interesting epitaphs that have been preserved 

 for us reveal many features which enable us to piece the fascinating 

 story together, for we are able to ascertain some idea of the size, 

 shape and structure of the ancient originators of the English Wild 

 Cattle of to-day, and also the place they occupied in the life of the 

 mighty hunters of olden time. That the huge beast was sought after 

 by the hunter in prehistoric days is not only revealed to us by 

 Caesar's own words, but the skulls unearthed have been found to be 

 pierced by flint hatchets. 



The exact date when this monarch of the wild disappeared from 

 our own country is difficult to determine with any degree of certainty, 

 but it seems agreed that the latest examples were found in Scotland 



