14 WILD WHITE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



respect. It is not likely that the adult Urus of the 

 Hyrcinian Forest would submit to be tamed ; but so far 

 as I am aware, there are none of the Taurine group 

 which may not with care and attention be subjugated 

 when young ; and this, as regards the Urus itself, the 

 history of domestic cattle seems to show. It appears 

 therefore pretty clear that on this point Caesar, who 

 could never have tried the experiment himself, must 

 have been mistaken ; as he certainly was in some more 

 than doubtful statements which he made, possibly on 

 hearsay evidence, with regard to other beasts in this 

 same forest, supposed to be the Reindeer and the Elk. 



In the troubled ages which accompanied and followed 

 the decline and fall of the Eoman Empire the Urus still 

 held his ground, though in decreasing numbers, as a 

 wild animal on the Continent of Europe. The martyr 

 Saturninus was attached to the horns of a wild bull and 

 dragged to death at Toulouse, on the spot where after- 

 wards one of the most ancient churches of Gaul was 

 built, named du Taur. It is said that the Spanish bull- 

 fights took their rise from the chase of this animal in 

 the Pyrenees. The Urus is also mentioned as existing 

 in the Vosges mountains, and in the Ardennes, and it 

 was hunted by Charles the Great near Aachen.* It is 

 spoken of in the Niebelungen Lied, where it is said about 

 a hunting match in the woods near Worms — 



" Dar nach schluch er schiere einen Wizent und einen Elch, 

 Starcher Ure viere, und einen grimmen Schelch." 



" After this he slew straight a Bison and an Elk, 

 Of the strong Uri four, and a fierce Schelch." * 



Still through the mediaeval period the Bos urus lived, 



* Aix-la-Chapelle. t The meaning of this word seems uncertain. 



