Cliap. 70.] 
329 
The bull has a proud air, a stern forehead, shaggy ears, and ' 
horns which appear always ready, and challenging to the com- 
bat ; but it is by his fore feet that he manifests his threatening 
anger. As his rage increases, he stands, lashing back his 
taiP^ every now and then, and throwing up the sand against 
his belly ; being the only animal that excites himself by these 
means. We have seen them fight at the word of command, and 
shown as a public spectacle ; these bulls whirled about and 
then fell upon their horns, and at once were up again ; then, 
at other times, they would lie upon the ground and let them- 
selves be lifted up ; they would even stand in a two-horsed 
chariot, while moving at a rapid rate, like so many chariot- 
eers.^^ The people of Thessaly invented a method of killing 
bulls, by means of a man on horseback, who would ride up 
to them, and seize one of the horns, and so twist their neck. 
Caesar the Dictator was the first person who exhibited this 
spectacle at Eome. 
Bulls are selected as the Very choicest of victims, and are 
offered up as the most approved sacrifice for appeasing the 
gods.^^ Of all the animals that have long tails, this is the 
only one whose tail is not of proportionate length at the mo- 
ment of birth ; and in this animal alone it continues to grow 
until it reaches its heels. It is on this account, that in making 
choice of a calf for a victim, due care is taken that its tail 
reaches to the pastern joint; if it is shorter than this, the 
sacrifice is not deemed acceptable to the gods. This fact has 
also been remarked, that calves, which have been carried to 
the altar on men's shoulders, are not generally acceptable to 
the gods ; and also, if they are lame, or of a species which is 
not appropriate,^* or if they struggle to get away from .the 
by -^lian, Anim. Nat. B. xii. c. 34, and by Suetonius, Life of Domitian, 
c. ix. — B. 
31 It is doubtful whether this is the meaning of alternos replicans 
orbes," or what indeed is the meaning. Most editions omit orbes,'' thus 
making the matter still worse. 
92 Hardouin supposes that this alludes to the exhibition of oxen hunted 
at the exhibition of shows and in the Circus, for the gratification of the 
Boman people. — B. 
93 Referred to by Virgil, Georg. B. ii. 11. 145, 146, " et maxima taurus 
Victima," and the bull the largest victim of all." — B. 
9* In reference to this remark, we may mention the passage in Virgil, 
JEn. B. iii. c. 119, Taurum Neptuno, taurum tibi, pulcher Apollo." A 
bull to thee, Neptune, a bull to thee, beauteous Apollo." 
