BULLETIN

(French; diminutive of bulla), an official report giving an account of the actual condition of some important affair; thus the bulletin of the army, of his majesty's heuEdth, . — ^The name bulletin is also often given on the Continent to an account of the proceedings of academies and learned societies; thus we hear of the bulletins of the Academy of St Petersburg, BULL-FIGHTS are among the favourite diversions of the Spaniards, who, like all the nations of the B. of Europe, are pa ionately fond of public combats and exhibitions of strength and agility. The excommunications of the popes have not been sufficient to induce them to abandon this amusement Charles IV. abolished it; but it was revived again by Joseph. The a ailants are seldom killed in these sports. The splendid bull-fights formerly exhibited by the king on festival days were very costly. The Spaniards distinguish the ioreo, in which the bull is killed, from the corrida de noviUot^ where he has his horns tipped with leaden balls and is only irritated. Bull-fights in the capital, and in all the larger cities of Spain, are got up by private persons or for the ben^t of some public institution. They are exhibited at Madrid through the summer at least once a week for the benefit of the general hospital The income from such a spectacle is commonly about 2000 dollani, and the outlay, which goes principally to the combatants, who have their fixed wages, about 1000. The bull-fights are held at Madrid in the CoUaeo de lot ToreroSf an amphitheatre having circular seats, rising one above another, and a row of boxes over them. AU the spectators are dre ed in their best The combatants, who make bull-fighting their profe ion, march into the arena in proce ion, with some magistrate at their head. They are of various kinds — iSie pieadortSf combatants on horseback, in the old Spanish knightly garb; the banderUUros, combatants on foot, in short variegated frocks, with banners; and lastly, the matador (the killer). As soon as the oorregidor gives the signal, the bull is loosed from the stalL The pie adores, who have stationed themselves near him, commence the attack. Sometimes a horse is wounded, and the rider is obliged to run for his life. A peculiar kind of foot combatants, chulotf a ist the horsemen by drawing the attention of the hull with their banner; and in case of danger they save themselves by leaping over the wooden fence which surrounds the arena. The banderilUros then come into play. They try to fasten on bull their handertUaa — ^hollow tubes filled with powder, having strips of paper wound round them small hooks at the ends. If they succeed the squibs which are attached to them are discharged, and bull races madly about the arena. The matador comes in gravely, with a naked sword, and aims fatal blow at the animal. If it is effectual slaughtered bull is dragged away, an(f another is out from the stall. If a bull is too inactive the are set upon ^i'tti; if he is too violent several horses are often killed. The bull is more furious in proportion as the heat of the weather is greater. Burlesque scenes accompany the spectacle: apes are trained spring upon the neck of the buU, without his being able to reach them. Men of straw are set up before him, upon which he exhausts his strength. Some the foot combatants likewise dre themselves tesquely, to irritate the bull and amuse the spectators. See Doblado's Letters from Spain and Ford's Hand-book of Spain. 471