COMBATS BETWEEN THE BULLS. 201 



lord and master of the herd — remains in pretty close 

 attendance upon any cow which happens for the time 

 being to wish for his company, yet it seems clear that 

 he is not the sire of every calf born while he reigns 

 supreme. The superior activity and vigilance of the 

 younger bulls enable them sometimes, perhaps not un- 

 frequently, to seize some happy opportunity, and to 

 outwit their potent and vigorous, but less energetic 

 monarch without the risk of a personal encounter with 

 him. Some remarkable instances of this were told us, 

 so that probably the influence of the reigning bull is 

 not so great, as regards the succeeding generation, as has 

 been usually supposed. At least, I apprehend that this 

 is, to a certain extent, the case in a herd so numerous 

 as the one at Chillingham, and in which so many adult 

 bulls are kept, whatever it may be under other circum- 

 stances. 



"When a younger bull thinks himself able to contest 

 the supremacy with his chief, he challenges him. This 

 is a small matter in itself, though often terrible in its 

 results ; he puts himself in the attitude of defiance and 

 paws the ground. The reigning monarch knows well 

 what it means, and the laws of honour compel him to 

 accept the contest. The duel is a desperate one ; the 

 mastership of the herd the prize. 



" The bellowing war begins : 

 Their eyes flash fury ; to the hollowed earth, 

 Whence the sand flies, they mutter bloody deeds, 

 And groaning deep, the impetuous battle mix : 

 "While the fair heifer, balmy breathing, near, 

 Stands kindling up their rage." 



The contest is no child's play. Sometimes both 

 combatants perish, when very equally matched — both 



