EXTRACT FROM PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION xiii 



not a day passes without repeated acknowledgment in deed, 

 if not in word, of his absolute dependence upon her for 

 his very existence ; an undeniable proof that in this respect, 

 in spite of all his assumed airs of superiority, the pedantic 

 philosopher is in no superior position to the most humble 

 toiler in the farmyard or the field. 



If Agricultural literature has hitherto failed to secure the 

 attention of some of those " wise " men who despise Agri- 

 culture, but who, by going to the country, themselves show 

 that they do not quite "esteem it no other than a place 

 for beasts," it is to be hoped that the pictures presented 

 in this volume may induce many such to undertake a course 

 of study which would create in their minds intelligent ideas 

 of the processes of nature, of the rural work of man, and, 

 above all, of the actions and dispositions of the animals 

 which are constantly displayed before them. Such " wise " 

 men would then be able to enjoy during a change to the 

 country, relaxation and resuscitation of mind, as well as 

 attain the meaner and less elevating object of the restoration 

 of the animal constitution. 



R. W. 



EXTRACT FROM THE PREFACE TO THE 

 SECOND EDITION 



I HAVE endeavoured to acknowledge in suitable terms 

 the sources of much of my information, but I should also 

 add that I am indebted to the " Stock," " Herd," or " Flock" 

 books relating to the various breeds. I would also refer 

 my readers to the following works, which treat generally 

 of farm stock, and which discuss fully various subjects of 

 interest which could not conveniently be dealt with in 

 an exhaustive manner in the following pages : 



(i) Youatt's various works on Live Stock. (2) Cole- 

 man's Cattle, Sheep, and Pigs of Great Britain. (3) Low's 

 Domesticated Animals of the BritisJi Isles, 1845. (4) The 

 same, with a selection of illustrations produced from the 

 collection of 100 oil paintings, mainly by W. Shields, R.S.A., 



