Part 13 (1/2)
Upon a close comparison of these two breeds, there appears not to be so much difference between the Highland cattle and the cattle of Chillingham as there is between any two breeds or varieties of British cattle. Indeed so great is the similarity, that the Kyloe appears to be only a black variety of the Chillingham Ox, and the Chillingham Ox only a white variety of the Kyloe.
Dr. Anderson speaks of having seen a kind of Highland cattle which had a mane on the top of the head, of considerable length, and a tuft between the horns that nearly covered the eyes, giving them a fierce and savage aspect. He likewise mentions another kind which have hair of a pale lead colour, very beautiful in its appearance, and in its quality as glossy and soft as silk.
The Kyloe Oxen are natives of the Western Highlands and Isles, and are commonly called the Argyles.h.i.+re breed, or the breed of the Isle of Skie, one of the islands attached to the county of Argyle. They are generally of a dark brown colour, or black, though sometimes brindled.
The Cows of the Isle of Skie (as is recorded by Martin, in his 'Description of the Western Islands of Scotland,') are exposed to the rigour of the coldest seasons, and become mere skeletons in the spring, many of them not being able to rise from the ground without help; but they recover as the season becomes more favorable, and the gra.s.s grows up; then they acquire new beef, which is both sweet and tender; the fat and lean is not so much separated in them as in other cows, but as it were larded, which renders it very agreeable to the taste. A cow in this isle may be twelve years old, when at the same time its beef is not above four, five, or six months old.
TABLE OF THE NUMBER OF VERTEBRae IN THE VARIOUS SPECIES OF THE GENUS BOS.
Cerv.
Dors.
Lumb.
Sacr.
Caud.
Total.
American Bison
7
14
5
5
12+
European Bison,
or Aurochs
7
14
5
5
19
50 Yak
7
14
5
5
14
45 Gayal (Domestic)
7
14
5
5
16
47 Gayal (a.s.seel).
Gyall
Jungli Gau
Italian Buffalo.
Indian Buffalo.
Skeleton of Buffalo
in Surg. Coll.
(locality unknown)
7
13
6
5
16
47 Gaur
7
13
6
5
19
50 Domestic Ox
7
13
6
5
21
52 Condore Buffalo
Manilla Buffalo
7
13
6
Pega.s.se
Arnee
Cape Buffalo
7
13
6
4
19
49 Zamouse (_Bos_
_Brachyceros_)
7
13
6