Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1892-02-20
A CATTLE i FUNERAL.
HOW THE WILD HERDS OF THE
PRAIRlES MOURN A DEATH.

Af,r and Bolts for the Grave. Followed
by the Relieving Hcrd-CreaturesC Come
from All Directions.
A cattle funeral may seem an odd
thing to write about, but it is ten times
more sad to witness. If the observer
happens to he OH foot in the vicinity of
the scene Of the ceremony, however, he
is apt to find it anything but odd, unless
there be tree or some other place OF
refuge convenient. or the curious oElook-
er be unusually fleet of foot.
But doubtless the average reader does
not know what cattle funeral IS like,
and perhaps is not inclined to give credit
to the possible existence of such thing.
If he has never lived in a locality where
cattle of a moro or less untamed DISPOSE
ton are wont to range. he will certainly
never have had an opportunity to learn
by observation any Of the peculiar and
notable facts connected with this re-
markable phenomenon Of the range.
a cattle funeral. then. is nothing more
or less than exactly what the words seem
to Indicate ceremony of morning over
the untimely fate of departed herd
mate, in which every individual member
of the band that's within long range ear
or nose shot is bound to participate. In
detail this ceremony consists OF sort OF
walk around. accompanied with the
most doleful. ear piercing and heart
rending means. shrieks and bellowings
and varied by ponderous pawings in the
ground and the most singrllarly dexter
Gus flingings of the resultant dust upon
the backs of the four footed mcrners.
To observe or participate in a cssttle
funeral let the curious minded go out
upon the range. select some spot which
is open and affords no obstruction to the
view, and from which no "critter" is in
sight.
Having selected such a spot. let one OF
the CRITTERS be brought quietly and Sc
cretly from a distance. and without I'M
due ostentation, us becomes poachers
upon another mans range, let him I've
done to death. Let the offal be sccreted
whero even the coyotes cannot ind 1t,
and let the hide and flesh be carried
carefully away. Then let earth be
thrown on the blood stains TO hide al
traces of disturbance. and let this all he
done so well that even tine human eye
can detect nothing that would reveal
what had been done.
THE LEADER SHIFTS THE WIND.
Then let the twcntyfonr hours. or
even less. pass. unless Indeed there be
cattle within mile or less at the time
of the slaughter. But for the purpose
of illustration suppose that twenty-four
hours have elapsed.
Then. suppose Il lot of one or two hun
dred head Of cattle come drifting down
over the range 10 the leeward OF the
spot where the slaughter of tho day
previous occurred. The leader of the
herd may be two or three miles, perhaps
farther. from the scene of blood. Sud
deuly lie commences 10 show siS':5 OF
uneasiness. Though the grass be deep
and luxu,'iant he only feeds q few mo-
ments continuously, lifting his head and
tossing his horns as if an enemy was
near.
Suddenly there is strong puff OF
wind. and as the rostrils Of the leader
inhale the air ii transformation occurs
like fash Of lightning. lie hats.
throws his muzzlc Into the air and then
enits most unearthly. prolonged,
weird. moaning Shrek OF below. 1t IA
like none of the various noises made
upon other occasions, bat hHs Z tone
that is all its Own and which is evidently
well understood by the entire herd.
With another Shrek, which can be
heard for niile and even further. the
leader breaks into a run. with his tail IN
the air and with his head shaking an
glily FROM side to side, followed by all
the members of the herd. each adding 10
the Volume of sound that now fills The
air. AS other animals feeding quietly
at distance hear the peculiar sounds
they. too, prick up their ears, then with
answering shrieks they gallop wildly
toward the excited band and JON 1t in
pursuit of tie leader.
TERRIFIC SCENE.
That animal quickly arrives at the
telltale spot He snusfs at the ground.
meanwhile lashing his sides with his tail
and believing continually in a manner
that suggests the height OF rage. His
eyes fash wildly, the frcth drops from
his jaws aud 1ieclss his neck and body.
He paws the ground angrily with his
hoofs, and ~ dexterous twisting man
nges to cast great masses of the earth
into tho air :ld upon bis back.
The o:he. come racing Up and crowd
closely apo, the spot where their mate
was slain. !. tuner circle is formed by
the excited ,ii1nals. with their heads all
pointing to /; common center, and these
below and paw the ground and race
around and around until exhausted.
Meanwhile the others are circling rapid
" about the central cluster and finally
displace the earlier arrivals. whereupon
they too so through the same perform
ance.
The scene is terrific one. Horns are
clashed against horns. the believing Of
the angry animals is deafening, the air
Is hlled Win NuSC' Ile oetStS Sechi 'tcIu-
ated each by some particular malevo-
lent spirit, and their actions appear
prompted almost by human understand
ing.
Occasionally the scene of bloodshed
will be discovered by some wandering
"critte-" who has that portion OF the
range to himself temporarily. There