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    • Daily History Picture: Thirteenth-Century Hunt November 14, 2014

    Author: Beach Combing | in : Historical Pictures , trackback

    Bestiary of the Second Family, Peterborough Abbey or Canterbury Abbey, c. 1200–1210

     

    What is the red bull?

    Tony B with the answer: The Red Bull is a Bonacon, a fabulous creature perhaps based on the European Bison or Wisent, which levels whole sections of forest with its farts. It also defends itself with them. The only reason it’s familiar is that I once painted a Bestiary of such critters on canvas wall-hangings for a castle in the Isle of Man.

    Bonnacon Farting [2]

    Typhon confirms this: Now, the red bull that is hunted in your post from the 14.11.2014 is a “Bonnacon”.A type of bull with flaming/burning/acidic dung, which it uses as a weapon.. Actually you can see that in the picture in your post, that the shield of the knight is being defecated upon.It features in several medieval bestiaries. Here are two links incl. what Pliny had to say about it: http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast80.htm,