HAMILTON BREED OF WILD CATTLE. 203 
ing chased so much when any of them ai'e to be 
shot, — of being so frequently approached and dis- 
turbed by straiigei-s, — and of having been exposed 
so long to all the vicissitudes of the seasons, and 
constantly browsing the same pasture, — have no 
doubt contributed greatly to the deterioration of the 
breed, and must have reduced them much in size 
and other qualities. 
“ The ancient history of this breed is involved in 
much mystery. From fossil remains, chiefly found 
in marl-pits, it appeal's that two species of the ox 
tribe formerly prevailed in Scotland, namely, the Bos 
taurus and the Bos urus. Some heads of these, of 
very large dimensions, are still preserved in the col- 
lections of the curious. Professor Fleming of Aber- 
deen informs us, that he has a skull of the former in 
his possession, measuring 27^ inches in length, 9 
inches between the horns, and 1 1^ inches across at 
the orbits. The accounts of ancient authors certain- 
ly allude to a species of wild cattle very different in 
their characters and dimensions from those of the 
present day. The favourite haunt of these animals 
in ancient times seems to have been the Caledonia 
Sylva, or Caledonian Forest, which extended from 
Stirling, through Menteith and Stratherne, to Athol 
nnd Lochaber. It is described by old authors as di- 
viding the Piets from the Scots ; and, being w'ell fur- 
ttished with game, especially with fierce white bulls 
and kine, it was the place of both their huntings, and 
nf their gi'eatest controversies. Some say it took its 
