COMMON OX, 
295 
his stroking its head it got up, pawed two or 
three times like an old bull, bellowed very loud, 
went back a few steps, and bolted at his legs with 
all its force ; it then began to paw again, bellowed, 
stepped back, and bolted as before. But being 
aware of its intentions, he moved aside, and it mis- 
sed its aim, fell, and was so very weak, that though 
it made several efforts it was not able to rise. It, 
however, had done enough ; the whole herd was 
alarmed, and coming to its rescue, they obliged him 
to retire. 
When any one of them happens to be wound- 
ed, or is grown weak and feeble through age or 
sickness, the rest of the herd set upon and gore it 
to death. 
These animals in their domestic state, are patient 
and peaceable ; neither remarkably stupid, nor 
eminent for docility ; affectionate to their young ; 
and even capable of some degree of attachment to 
those who use them kindly. Bulls are sometimes 
so ferocious as to attack, even unprovoked, people 
who pass near them ; but the cow and the bullock 
are seldom troublesome in this way, unbss they 
have been very improperly managed. The natural 
character of all ruminating animals is evidently 
mild and pacific. They are not armed with tusks 
or claws. Their vicera are formed for the recep~ 
tion rather of vegetable food, which must pass 
through a long process before it can be converted 
into aliment, than of animal food, which is more 
speedily digested. 
The age of the cow is known by the teeth and 
horns. This animal is furnished with eight cutting 
teeth in the lower jaw ; at the age of ten months, 
the two middlemost of these fall out, and are replaced 
by others, that are not so white, but broader ; at 
the age of sixteen months, the two next milk-white 
teeth fall out likewise, and others come up in their 
