Esteay

' An animal that has escaped from its owner, and wanders or strays about; at common law, a wandering animal whose owner is unknown.* A wandering beast whose owner is unknown to the person who takes it up.' Estrays are such valuable animals as are found wandering in any manor or lordship, and no man knoweth the owner ol them.. Any beasts may be estrays that are by nature tame or reclaimable, and in which there is a valuable property, as, sheep, oxen, swine, and horses, which we in general call " cattle.". For animals upon which the law sets no value, as a dog or a cat, and animals /erce natures, as, a bear or a wolf, cannot be considered estrays.. The finder is bound, so long as he keeps the animal, to feed and care for it; but he may not use it at labor.* By early English law, estrays were the property of the king, or of his grantee — the lord of the manor where found. Modem statutes provide that they shall be impounded, for return to the owner, on payment of expenses.' See Use, 2.