The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-09-13
Wild White Cattle.

In the north of England, Northum-
berland county, the estate of the Earl Of
TankerviIle, there is an old park which
has enclosed q herd of wild white cattle
for the last six hundred years. These
animals, breeding in-andin, or in as close
relationship as possible, for centuries,
vet maintaining their primitive vigor,
have, by their example, done much to
develop the improved lODg-hOrns, short
horns. Devons. HeTefOrdF, and other
breeds on the British islands. If nature
preserves the health, and Perpetuates
the existence of wild animals IN forests
for long geological ages, by close breed
ing, why should the scientific farmer
ignore this pregnant fact, and follow a
tradition whose mother Is Ignorance?
The study Of wild and domesticatsd
cattle throws light on the habits and in
dustrial practices of our ancestors in
Europe in prehistoric times. -Four hun
dred years before the birth of Christ,
Herodotus, the historian, tells rs that
when the army OF XeEes was passing
through part Of PeOnia and AastOnica,
which lay between southern Ihrace and
Macedonia. the country abounded with
wild bulls, which must have been animals
of great power, for the same country Was
infested by lions 50 ferociOus that tn
attacked at night the camels carrying
the provisions of the army. There in
reason to believe that these bulls, strong
enough by massing in herds TO defend
| Themselves against lions, were not bisOns
| but uri-the mammoth cattle described
! by Julius Cesar in after years. The
/ following Is Casar's description relating
| to the wild beasts Of the Hyscinian
Forest:
'The third kind of wild beast is the
one they call the urus, of such great
| size as to be little inferior to elephants
| in general appearance, color and form;
| they are bulls. Great Is their strength
and great is their swittness, and they
spare neither man nor wild beast that
| comes within their view. The Germans
take and kill them in pitfalls, made
! with great care and trouble Their
/ Young men inuTe themselves to this
labor and exercise themselves in this
kind of hunting, and they who have
killed the most publicly produce the
horns in testimony OF their exploits and
receive great praise. But 1t Is impossible
to accustOm uTi to men and to tame
them, and TO this even very young one
are no exception. The great size, form
and beauty Of their horns make then
differ much from the horns of our oxen
These they collect with great care, and
surrounding them with silver, use then
as cups at their largest banquets."
1t is interesting TO learn how man
with mis- stragetic brain and laborously
dug pitfalls, caught and subsisted OF
ferociOus ruminants, which were NOR
than a match for lions. Man owes hi
remarkable cOnquests over much stror
ger animals than himself to the unite
labor Of his hands and his intellect. T
these great primitive powers he is nov
able to add the force of accumulate
wisdom and capital, the growth of man
e generations. An interesting letter fror
/ Lord Iankerville relating to the viii
e white cattle in Chillipgham park wl
= read before the British association, whic
=. we intended to notice in this article bu
defer to another.