82 THE JERSEY, ALDERNEY AND GUERNSEY COW. 



If the scutcheon be wider about the vulva than below, 

 the medium width throup^h its whole extent is estimated, 

 and this represents the value of the scutcheon and the 

 order of the cow. 



All variations in the hair of the scutcheons are tufts 

 which constitute irregularity or indicate a fault in the 

 interior which affects the secretions of milk. The fault 

 is in relation to the superficial extent of the tufts. As 

 Magne says, '* the tufts being valuable in proportion to 

 the space which they occupy, it is of much importance 

 to attend to all the rows of descending hairs which 

 lessen its size, whether these occur in the middle of the 

 scutcheon or form Indentations on its edges. These 

 indentations, partly concealed by the folds of the skin, 

 are sometimes perceived with difficulty. It is of much 

 importance, however, to take them into account, for in 

 a great number of cows they greatly lessen the size of 

 the scutcheon. We often find cows which at first sight 

 appear to have a very large scutcheon, and yet are only 

 middling, because lateral Indentations greatly lessen the 

 part of the skin covered with ascending hairs. Many 

 blunders are committed in estimating the worth of 

 cows because sufficient attention is not paid to the real 

 size of the scutcheon." 



Guenon, moreover, says, "in general, when a tuft is 

 seen on the scutcheon, either on the right or left of the 

 thigh, we know that the veins situated beneath, on either 

 side of the belly, have a peculiarity; the one on the side 

 cf the tuft where the scutcheon Is contracted Is small, 



