TRANS ACTIONS. 253 



with lumps of fat and fiesli, wliicli always give a lieavy-head- 

 ed, dull appearance to an ox. The fore-arm and hock 

 should also be clean and full of muscle, to endure Travelling. 

 LarQ-c ioints indicate bad feeders. The neck of an ox 

 should be, contrary to that of the sheep, small from the 

 back of the head to the middle of the neck. The reason 

 of the difference, in this respect, between the ox and the 

 sheep is, that the state of the neck of the ox has no effect 

 on the strength of the spine. 



A full, clear and prominent eye is another point to be 

 considered ', because it is a nice indication of good breed- 

 ing. It is always attendant on fine bone. The expression 

 of the eye is an excellent index of many properties in the 

 ox. A dull, heavy eye certainly indicates a slow feeder. — 

 A rolling eye, showing much white, is expressive of a rest- 

 less, capricious disposition, which is incompatible with quiet 

 feeding. A calm, complacent expression of eye and face is 

 strongly indicative of a sweet and patient disposition, and, 

 of course, kindly feeding. The eye is frequently a faithful 

 index to the state of the health. A cheerful, clear eye ac- 

 companies good health; a constantly dull one proves the 

 probable existence of some internal lingering disease. The 

 dullness of eye, arising from the effect of internal disease, 

 is, however, quite different in character from a natural or 

 constitutional phlegmatic dullness. 



The state of the skin is the next point to be ascertained. 

 The skin affords what is technically and emphatically called 

 the " touch" — a criterion second to none in judging of the 

 feeding properties of an ox. Tlie touch may be good or 

 bad, fine or harsh, or, as it is often termed, hard or mellow. 

 A thick, firm skin, which is generally covered with a thickset, 

 hard, short hair, always touches hard, and indicates a bad 

 feeder. A thin, meagre, papery skin, covered witli thin silky 

 hair, being the opposite of that just described, does not, how- 

 ever, afford a good touch. Such a skin is indicative of 

 weakness of constitution, though of good feeding properties. 



