SELECTION OF MILK COWS. 377 



"The position of the teats is not of great importance, and yet 

 it is desirable that they be apart from each other, as indicating 

 that the milk vessels are spacious. This peculiarity is observed 

 in the best cows. (See plate 30.) When the teats are crowded 

 together, the glands are small, and the milk by no means abun- 

 dant. 



"It is necessary, however, in determining the influence exer- 

 cised, by the position of the teats, to pay attention to the form 

 of the udder. When it is long, like a bottle, the cow may be 

 good, though the teats be close. The milk vessels are then 

 developed from top to bottom, instead of from side to side, and 

 between, before, and behind. (A hanging, or bottle-shaped 

 udder, we would never select, unless assured that the cow was 

 an extraordinary milker. They are always in the way of acci- 

 dents, when the cow is traveling, besides unsightly. L. F. A.) 



VEINS. 



"Of all marks for ascertaining good cows, the best are afforded 

 by the blood vessels; if the veins which surround the udder are 

 large, winding, and varicose, (dilated at intervals,) they show that 

 the glands receive much blood, and, consequently, that their func- 

 tions are active, and that the milk is abundant. 



VEINS OF THE STOMACH, OK LACTEAL VEINS. 



"The veins on the lateral parts of the belly are most easily 

 observed, and all authors have fixed on them, as one of the best 

 tests for ascertaining the activity of the glands. 



"These veins issue from the udder, in front, and at the outer 

 angle, where they form, in very good cows, a considerable vari- 

 cose swelling. They proceed toward the front part of the body, 

 forming angles, more or less distinct, often divide towards their 

 anterior extremity, and sink into the body by several openings. 

 (See plate 26.) 



"We can make the size of the lacteal veins visible to the eye 

 by touching them, by compressing them in their passage, or, in 



