of the world is the training of the horses, or the dexterity of the horseman, equal to the performance of such exploits.  Effigies made of skin and filled with wind, and others made of straw, in which are live birds, are placed in the arena.  The bull tosses them in the air, but being made heavy at the base, they come to the ground always retaining an upright posture.  The straw figures are furnished with fire-works, which are made to take fire when the birds escape from within, and it sometimes happens that the bull has the flaming and cracking figure upon his horns.  Sometimes the bull is maddened by fire-works being fastened on him, which go off in succession.  The crackers being expended, the animal usually stands gazing around with rolling tongue, panting sides, and eyes sparkling with rage.  He is then faced by the principal matador, who holds a straight sword in one hand and a flag in the other; as the bull runs at him with full speed, the matador coolly, but with great celerity, takes one step to the left, holding the flag just over the spot he occupied when the bull took aim.  Being foiled, the bull wheels round, and charges his tormentor a second time, who again skilfully eludes being caught on the horns:  this is repeated about three times, to the great delight of the audience.  At length the matador assumes a sort of fencing attitude, and at the critical moment, plunges his sword into the bull’s neck, near to its shoulders, when it falls dead at his feet.  Handkerchiefs are waved, and applauding shouts resound from every side.  Four horses richly harnessed then appear.  The dead bull is quickly fixed to traces, and dragged out at a gallop, cheered by continued acclamations.

  “Four steeds that spurn the rein, as swift as shy,
  Hurl the dark bulk along, scarce seen in dashing by.”

  BYRON.

Other bulls are killed in the same way by successive matadores.  One is generally despatched by means of a long knife grasped by the matador, so that when his arm is extended, the blade is perpendicular to the wrist.  The bull being worried for a time, the matador, instead of receiving him on the point of a sword as before, steps one pace aside as the bull runs at him, and adroitly plunges the knife into the spinal marrow behind the horns, and the animal drops dead instantaneously.  Another bull is next attacked by mounted picadores, armed with lances.  Their legs are protected by padding.  Their horses are of little value, and cannot easily get out of the way of the bull.  Neither do the riders often attempt it; to do so being considered cowardly.  The consequence is, the horses generally receive a mortal gore; part of their entrails are frequently torn out, and exhibit a most disgusting spectacle.  The riders run considerable risk, for their lances are inadequate to killing the bull, which after being gored and mangled, is finally despatched by a matador.