There are many varieties of the domestic ox or cow, all of which are
supposed to have sprung from a species still found wild in Europe and
Asia. The herds of wild cattle in North and South America are the
progeny of animals brought hither by the Spanish settlers.
_Miscellaneous Anecdotes._--The following account is from the journal
of a Sante Fe trader: "Our encampment was in a beautiful plain. Our
cattle were shut up in the pen with the wagons; and our men were, with
the exception of the guard, all wrapped in a peaceful slumber,--when
all of a sudden, about midnight, a tremendous uproar was heard, which
caused every man to start in terror from his couch, with arms in hand.
Some animal, it appeared, had taken fright at a dog, and, by a sudden
start, set all around him in violent motion. The panic spread
simultaneously through the pen; and a scene of rattle, clash, and
'lumbering' succeeded, which far surpassed every thing we had yet
witnessed. A general _stampede_ was the result. Notwithstanding the
wagons were tightly bound together, wheel to wheel, with ropes or
chains, the oxen soon burst their way out; and, though mostly yoked in
pairs, they went scampering over the plains. All attempts to stop them
were in vain; but early the next morning we set out in search of them,
and recovered all the oxen, except half a dozen." Similar cases of
panic are frequently described by travellers upon the western prairies.
The cattle of South America, especially in the neighborhood of Buenos
Ayres, are said to give indications of approaching rain, before the
signs of it are visible in the atmosphere. A traveller relates that, in
passing from this place, the weather had been long dry, almost every
spring had failed, and the negroes were sent in all directions to
discover fountains. Soon after, the cattle began to stretch their necks
to the west, and to snuff in a singular manner through their noses,
which they held very high in the air. Not a cloud was then seen, nor
the slightest breath of wind felt. But the cattle proceeded, as if
seized with a sudden madness, to scamper about, then to gather
together, squeezing closer and closer, and snuffing as before. While he
was wondering what was to be the result of such extravagant motions, a
black cloud rose above the mountains, thunder and lightning followed,
the rain fell in torrents, and the cattle were soon enabled to quench
their thirst on the spot where they stood.
There are many anecdotes which show that the ox, or cow, has a musical
ear. The carts in Corunna, in Spain, make so loud and disagreeable a
creaking with their wheels, for the want of oil, that the governor once
issued an order to have them greased; but the carters petitioned that
this might not be done, as the oxen liked the sound, and would not draw
so well without their accustomed music.
Professor Bell assures us that he has often, when a boy, tried the
effect of the flute on cows, and has always observed that it produced
great apparent enjoyment. Instances have been known of the fiercest
bulls being calmed into gentleness by music.