DOMESTIC CATTLE. , 151 



of in India. It is said that a team of oxen will 

 draw a siege-gun into action more steadily than 

 will any other animal ; and it is customary where 

 elephants were used to haul these ponderous 

 weapons, to have a bullock - team attached to 

 each gun, so that it can be sent forward when 

 the elephants refuse to face the noise and danger 

 of the battle - field. Cattle are not liable to 

 sudden panics, nor, except under certain special 

 circumstances, such as those discussed in the 

 preceding paragraphs, does a herd " stampede " 

 owing to some trifling cause, as a mob of horses 

 or a flock of sheep will. Under anything like 

 favourable conditions the life of the wild Bovidae 

 was a fairly placid one. Being so powerful, and 

 armed with such effective weapons, they did not 

 need to be continually on the watch, like deer 

 and other feebler creatures. Indeed this calm- 

 ness of temper which has so often been noted 

 in them was generally conducive to their safety. 

 While the herd of wild cattle stood firm not 

 even a tiger dared to attack them, and if a 

 single animal were away from its companions, 

 it would generally find it the safest policy 

 when enemies were near to remain quiet in 

 the hiding-place which it selected before it lay 



