202 WILD WHITE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



gored to death.. One such case the late Lord Tanker- 

 ville has mentioned ; and such a termination of the fray 

 seems to have been not uncommon in the fights between 

 their ancestor, the Urus ; for no less than two cases 

 have been related in one parish — that of Bower, in the 

 county of Caithness — in each of which two skulls of 

 these large cattle were found locked by the horns 

 together, showing that they fought till they destroyed 

 each other. But generally the battle, though severe, 

 is less fatal. The old monarch, if beaten, retires, no 

 more to reign ; the challenger, if discomfited, bides his 

 time, till his own increasing strength and his rival's 

 advancing years allow him to renew the fight and gain 

 the victory. 



Of Mr. Dixon's statement of two young bulls at- 

 tacking the king bull " fore and aft " when he advances 

 in years, I could not obtain any confirmation. On the 

 contrary, the change of dynasty is accomplished in the 

 manner I have related above — by single combat, as 

 among the knights of old ; and the rule is "a fair field 

 and no favour." Generally, at least, the remainder of 

 the herd look on quite passively, and there is no inter- 

 ference whatever with the two combatants. One re- 

 markable instance, however, I heard to the contrary. 

 The master bull was challenged, and fought with the 

 aspirant. The herd watched the spectacle ; they were 

 equally matched, and the result was yet doubtful, when 

 a jealous old bull, long since deposed and laid aside, 

 took the opportunity to revenge himself on his former 

 rival, charged the king bull a tergo, and thus gave the 

 victory to the younger competitor. As the habits of 

 wild cattle are little known to us, I have thought it 

 desirable to relate these particulars. 



