THE BEST ESCUTCHEON. 



183 



seen better when the animal is near her period of calving, or 

 just after it, as the udder, the veins, &c., are more distended. 

 The drawings of Guenon represent the escutcheon as it 

 would be seen if the skin of the udder and escutcheon was 

 stretched upon a board ; and it oftentimes can be seen much 

 better and more truly if the thighs are stretched apart, and 

 the skin distended by the hands. If in winter there is any 

 difficulty in seeing the outlines of the escutcheon clearly, 

 by drawing the back of the hand down it, with the nails 

 downward, they will rub against the up-growing hair, and it 

 will thus be easily defined. Also, if the cow advances a few 

 steps slowly, it will show the different parts more surely. 



The escutcheon also indicates, in all animals whose escutch- 

 eons are of the first order, that are in good health, and to 

 which no accidents have happened, as plainly its generative 

 ability as its production of milk. It is therefore highly 

 important the bull should have a good escutcheon as well as 

 good shape, fine hair, and fine skin. 



NAMES OF THE ESCUTCHEONS. 



The names which Guenon gave to his ten classes of escutch- 

 eons were arbitrary, and have but little significance. 



FIRST CLASS, FIRST ORDER. — FLANDERS. 



Twenty quarts, nine months. 



The first class he called Flandrine, or Flanders, because it 

 is the best ; and he named it after the best cows he knew, — 



