NATURAL HISTORY. 185 



*' As from fresh pastures and the dewy field 

 (When loaded cribs their evening banquet yield) 

 The lowing herds return : around them throng, 

 With leaps and bounds, their late imprisoned young." POPE. 



herself, and raising and throwing her tail o' er her haunches, in token of complete 

 satisfaction, went off prancing, kicking, ana curvetting, with every appearance of 

 health and gaiety ; and, taking her place in the van, was from that moment as well 



545. Why has the ox (the most valuable of quadrupeds to 

 man) been so easily and universally domesticated ? 



Because of its gregarious nature, which leads it readily to 

 associate with any other animal that evinces no disposition to 

 offer it direct injury. 



546. Why has the ox, in common with other ruminating 

 animals, a divided hoof? 



Because feet thus furnished take a firmer hold upon soft, 

 yielding, or irregularly disposed ground, supporting the body 

 better, and being less liable to injury than any other kind. Feet 

 thus formed also do less injury to vegetation than would result from 

 flat solid hoofs. 



547. Why has the cow, which usually produces but one calf, 

 four or more teats ? 



Because the calf, being born with teeth, and requiring a large 

 quantity of nourishment, the excess in the number of teats enables 

 the cow, by altering her position, to change the teat used by her young 

 one, and thus to prevent its becoming sore by continual sucking. 



543. It is a well-known fact that human mothers change the side upon which 

 children suck, for a similar reason. When a child is very hungry and tenacious of 

 the breast, soreness is prevented by thus acting ; and the appearance of teeth in the 

 gums of her offspring is the usual indication that the time proper for weaning is 

 at hand. 



In dairy economy, there is great advantage in the number of teats, because one 

 cow may be made to suckle two calves ; the second cow being kept for milch. 



In the domesticated state, udders and teats are very liable to become disordered. 

 As the udder consists of four distinct glands, each having a teat, the inflammation 

 arising from one may not be communicated to the other, which can be milked 01 

 Bucked, and the mammary system relieved. 



* Latrobc's "Alpenstock or, Sketches of Swiss Scenery and Manners." 



