FOSSIL EUROPEAN OXEN. 3 



skeleton is much like that of the tame ox, but each bone, 

 in proportion to the length, more slender and thin. 



Two other species of fossil European oxen might be 

 mentioned; but of these the most important — Bos 

 frontosus of Nilsson, a race larger than Bos longifrons, 

 and regarded as allied to it, though in the opinion of 

 some good judges it is a distinct species — appears to 

 have been little known in Britain, though co-existing in 

 Scania with its allied variety. The other, Bos trocho- 

 ceros, is now considered by Kutimeyer to be the female 

 of an early domesticated form of Bos primigenius, and 

 as the progenitor of the frontosus race. Specific names 

 have also been given to four others, which are now 

 believed to be identical with Bos primigenius. 



From the above fossil species most of the European 

 races of cattle undoubtedly descend, more or less directly. 

 In many instances, however, they have been produced 

 by the commingling of more than one species, while 

 climate and the selection of man have contributed to 

 produce further modifications. And another considera- 

 tion still further complicates the subject. " Although 

 certain races of cattle, domesticated at a very ancient 

 period in Europe, are the descendants of the above- 

 named fossil species, yet it does not follow that they 

 were here first domesticated." * All recent discoveries 

 seem to establish the fact, long since believed, that in 

 the course of long ages, successive tribes of men — 

 Iberians, Scythians, Celts, Teutons — following and 

 superseding each other like the waves of the sea, came 

 from the East to Western Europe, and, like the Israelites 

 when they left the land of Egypt, brought their cattle 

 — their richest possession — with them. Philology has 



* Darwin : " Animals and Plants," vol. i., chap. iii. 

 B 2 



