Hornless Ruminants. 893 
tious breeds, including the carefully cultivated polled variety, 
them.: ; 
IN EUROPE. ši 
Polled Cattle found in the Pliocene Deposits of Italy—There 
is peculiar evidence of the existence of polled cattle in Europe’ 
during the Pliocene period. It was during the Upper Pliocene 
period that the genus Bos first appeared on the earth’s surface. 
This was also the second stage in the development of deer, efc., 
—the period of hornless or feeble-horn rhinoceri, and of small- 
honed deer. Besides these, says Boyd-Dawkins, are some pe- 
tliar to Italy possessed of very remarkable characters. An ox, 
Bos etruscus, of Falconer, presents us with the first instance of 
polled cattle. And, on noting the “important characters of the 
fauna of the Pliocene period,” he says,— 
“R must also be remarked that the oxen (B. etruscus) were 
al ‘ L : ; 
i T may give a glimpse into the state of live-stock matters in Egypt, as may be 
tthered from the best sources. Dr. Samuel Birch, in his work already quoted, 
“ogg and goose constituted the principal part of the ancient food throughout 
beds 3 and by a prudent foresight, in a country possessing neither extensive pasture 
bidden 
nor great abundance of cattle, the cow was held sacred, and consequently for- 
to be eaten; and thus the risk of exhaustion, or at least greatly lessening 
ook, was effectually prevented, and a constant supply maintained for the con- 
; ng of the people. That a considerable quantity of meat was served up at 
asts to which Strangers were invited is evident from the sculptures. fHu- 
hair isa red oxen were lawful for sacrifice, but not so if they had a single white 
4 í Numbers : “ Brin ‘ * 2? For 
à : g thee a red heifer without spot”). 
the Egyptians killed cattle 
e 
The “herds,” indeed, were an inferior 7 
Were, as individuals, looked down upon. The rich landed proprietors 
den, large flocks and stocks of cattle, sheep, and goats, ete., on their estates. 
tui mnation of pastor did not extend to the farmers who bred their own sheep 
Superiors y to those who herded them. The herds were looked over by the 
ahs € estate; and they fully understood the different stages of grazing 
Ms. Such as ¢ These stewards selected their shepherds, who held a responsible 
a were skilled in cattle-management were” chosen ‘to make them 
e” Nothing was neglected. Branding was an annual opera- 
a Pn the herds of cattle grazed on common pasturages, and were Tabie 
is Hence this branding, which became imperative. It was, indeed, an 
es ting up, —which has thus a most respectable antiquity. 5 a? 
a are found on the monuments, which are a perfect pictorial 
; Wondrous ancient times, handed down to us in an imperishable form. 
LS 
' = cattle were branded or tattooed on their rumps with their regular : : 2 : ; 
