310 
THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF THE OX. 
from the front; whilst in the aurochs this line is two inches 
further back than the roots of the horns. The plane of the occi- 
put makes a sharp angle with the front in theox ; this angle is 
obtuse in the aurochs; and, lastly, the quadrangular plane of the 
occiput, as it is in the ox, represents a half circle in the aurochs. 
These are the principal arguments adduced by Cuvier and 
others to prove that the aurochs of the Germans are of a distinct 
species from Caesar’s urus. 
“ Seneca and Pliny clearly distinguished these differences — 
the latter particularly complains of the vulgarity of applying the 
name of Bubulus to the present species : — 
“ Illi cessit atrox Bubulus atque Bison.” 
Both of these animals are also mentioned in the ancient poem 
of the Niebelunger, where, in the description of a hunting-match, 
the hero Sifrid slays the Urus , the Bison, and a fierce Schelch, 
or stag : — 
“ Dar nach Schluch er schiere, einen Wisent und einen Elch, 
Starcher Ure viere, und einen grimmen Schelch.” 
After this he slew straight a Bison and an Elk, 
Of strong Uri four, and a fierce Schelch. 
From the testimony of Caesar it may certainly be inferred that 
the colossal ox, such as is represented by the large skull, both 
on the Continent and in England — existed in his time. Among the 
most ancient and celebrated skulls is the one at Warwick Castle, 
and another in the British Museum. They are nearly all a third 
larger than the skulls of our present breed — square from the 
orbits to the occipital crest, somewhat hollow at the forehead, 
and the horns shewing a peculiar rise from their roots upwards, 
bending outwards, then forwards and inwards. No domesticated 
race shews this peculiar turn ; but numerous specimens of inferior 
size, found fossil in some of the tin stream works in Cornwall, 
have the same shape. The wild cattle of Chillingham Park also 
partly retain it, and, as we shall have occasion to notice by- 
and-by, some other breeds. 
From what has been stated there cannot be a doubt that our 
present domesticated breed are descendants from the fossil kind ; 
and the differences observed in the flexures of the horns and other 
external appearances have been occasioned by alteration of cli- 
mate, soil, and manner of living: but whether there is sufficient 
evidence to prove that the bison and urus were originally distinct 
species, must still be a matter of doubt. There is one strong ar- 
gument which can be adduced against all that has been here 
stated, and which throws great doubt on the opinions of Cuvier 
