178 FONDNESS OF CATTLE FOR BONES. [PART II. 
rishing condition. He cannot, of course, be ex- 
pected to be very tame yet, but the few months 
during which he has been in captivity have done 
much towards overcoming his natural timidity, he 
having already become so far reconciled to the 
noise and bustle of the stable-yard, as to sit qui- 
etly sunning himself on the top of his “earth,” 
whilst the men are engaged in their usual avoca- 
tions. 
It has been suggested that he may owe his 
colour—or rather, I believe I should strictly say, 
absence of colour—to the paternity of an Arctic 
fox, which was some years ago in the possession 
of a gentleman in the Island, and afterwards made 
his escape. As, however, this one exhibits none 
of the peculiarities of form which characterise that 
species, I am inclined to believe him to be simply 
an albino. 
The fancy which Cattle have for bones appears 
to me not unworthy of observation. The shooting- 
lodge, which, as I have before mentioned, I occu- 
pied during a couple of seasons in Ross-shire, was 
only separated by the road from a sea-loch, into 
which were thrown all the refuse bones from the 
establishment. Here, every day at low water, 
might be seen the cows of the neighbouring 
