Page:Excavations at the Kesslerloch.djvu/27

Rh animals in the following words. 'In size they are little less than elephants; they are like bulls in appearance, colour, and shape. Their strength and speed are great, and when they see either man or beast they rush to the attack. They (the natives) catch them in pit-falls made with great care, and then kill them. The young men are hardened by this laborious work, and are accustomed to this kind of hunting, and those of them who have killed the greatest number are considered worthy of the highest honour; the horns being exhibited in public as a testimony of their prowess. The uri, even when taken very young, cannot be tamed or domesticated. In size, form, and appearance the horns differ much from those of our cattle. They are carefully edged with silver, and used as drinking-cups in their greatest feasts.' The 'Niebelungenlied,' which dates from the 12th century, mentions this animal, for it says of Siegfrid:

Which may be thus translated, 'On which he quickly slew a wisent and an elk, four strong uri, and a furious schelch.'

It has moreover been proved that this animal continued in a wild condition in Europe till the middle of the 16th century, nay, in England even a century later. It has often been affirmed that the Bos primigenius is the ancestor of our race of domestic cattle; there are, however, many opponents to this view. Professor Rütimeyer, who is acknowledged as one of the first authorities in this department, in his treatise on the Animal Remains of the Swiss Lake-dwellings, gives it as his opinion that