THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF THE OX. 
37 
and bearing a resemblance to the new moon. “ I act £’ er uXXvjX ohji 
*' e?a avereXXe A vtvxqc;, VjfJMTopov otre uvkXcc 
SfAvjvj-jf.” The colours of these sacred animals were varied : 
one of them is black, with a row of singular white streaks de- 
scending irregularly down the neck ; another is entirely white ; a 
third white, with a double oval lengthened ring on the flank ; 
and a fourth, partly covered by drapery, is rufous. To pursue 
this inquiry would scarcely have deserved attention, but that it 
indicates the value which some of the primitive nations set on 
this inestimable animal, enabling them, as it undoubtedly did, 
to till the ground ; and being, therefore, a direct cause of private 
territorial property, and of its consequences, wealth, commerce, 
and civilization, it was venerated and respected accordingly. 
It is our intention in this, and in a future number of The 
Veterinarian, to consider the original character of our native 
breed of cattle, their progressive improvement, and attendant 
circumstances, with some brief notice of our present stock ; and 
here we would mention, at the threshold, as it were, of our paper, 
that, until our attention was directed particularly to the subject, 
we were totally unaware that the historical account of our breeds 
was so meagre and imperfect. 
We know very little respecting the early history of our ances- 
tors previous to the Roman invasion. Most ancient writers agree 
that England was peopled from the continent, and that the first 
inhabitants derived their origin from the Celtse or Gauls, who 
were settled on the opposite coast of France. The propinquity 
of Britain, which was discernible from several parts of their own 
coast, must have presented an inviting opportunity, even in the 
infancy of navigation, of transporting themselves into the island 
with little difficulty. Here the new settlers evidently found cattle 
in abundance, and, retiring to the inland parts, led a life of pastoral 
simplicity, like that of their brethren in Gaul, unmolested by inva- 
sion from abroad or disquietude at home. The hides of their cattle, 
we are informed, were one of the principal articles of commerce 
with their neighbours, which were applied to various purposes, 
such as forming articles of dress in particular. 
Their boats or canoes (according to Lucan ) were built of osiers, 
covered with hides, which served them for short coasting voyages. 
Primum cana salix modefacto vimine parvam 
Texitur in puppim, caesoque induta juvenco, 
Vectoris patiens, tumidum super emicat amnem : 
Sic venetus stagnante pado, fusoque Britannus 
Navigat oceano. 
41 The bending willow into barks they twine. 
Then line the work with spoils of slaughter’d kine ; 
