388 MAMMALIA-OX. 



THE DOMESTIC OX.i 



Throughout the different regions of the world, the breed of oxen differs 

 in all external appearances, according to the nature of the climate, or other 

 circuriistances. But the most remarkable difference is that which divides 

 them into two classes ; viz. the aurochs, or ox without a hunch on its back, 

 and the hison, or hunched ox. All the tame oxen without hunches, have 

 proceeded from the aurochs, and all Avith hunches are issues of the bison. 

 In order to give a just idea of the varieties, we shall make a short enumera- 

 tion of these animals, such as they are actually found to be, in different 

 parts of the earth. 



To begin with the north of Europe, the few oxen and cows which subsist 

 in Iceland, are without horns, although they are of the same kind as our 

 oxen. The size of these animals is rather relative to the plenty and quality 

 of pasture, than to the nature of the climate. The Dutch have often brought 

 lean cows from Denmark, Avhich fatten prodigiously in tlieir meadows, and 

 which give plenty of milk. These Danish cows are longer than ours. The 

 oxen and cows of Ukraine, where there is excellent pasture, are said to be 

 the largest in Europe ; they are also of the same kind as our oxen. 



The breed of the bison, or hunched ox, fills all the southern provinces, at 

 this present time. In the whole continent of India ; the islands of the 

 South Seas ; in all Africa, from Mount Atlas to the Cape of Good Hope, we 

 find, nothing but hunched oxen. And it even appears, that this breed, 

 which has prevailed in all the hot countries, has many advantages over 

 the others. These hunched oxen, like the bison, of which they are the 

 issue, have the hair much softer and more glossy than our oxen ; who, like 

 the aurochs, are furnished with but little hair, which is of a harsh nature. 

 These hunched oxen are also swifter, and more proper to supply the place 

 of a horse ; at the same time that they have a less brutal nature, and are 

 not so clumsy and stupid as our oxen, they are more tractable, and sensible 

 which way you would lead them. The regard the Indians have for these 

 animals is so great, as to have almost degenerated into superstition. The 

 ox, as the most useful animal, has appeared to them the most worthy of 

 being revered ; for this purpose, they have made an idol of the object of 

 their veneration, a kind of beneficent and powerful divinity ; for we are 

 desirous of rendering all we respect, great, and capable of doing much 

 good, or much harm. 



These hunched oxen, perhaps, vary again more than ours, in the colors 

 of the hair, and the figure of the horns. The handsomest are all white, 

 like the oxen of Lombardy. There are also some that are without horns ; 

 there are others, who have them very much elevated, and others so bent 



* Bos taurus, Lin. 



