Live Stock Methods of improving of Structure of. 635 



It was fuppofed for a great length of time, and is ft ill by fome, that the former 

 of thefe methods, belides its fuperiority in other refpedfo, poflefled confiderable 



the form of which fhould approach to the figure of a cone, having its apex fituated between the (boul 

 ders, and its bafe towards the. loins. The capacity of thechell depends on its form more than on the 

 extent of its circumfert-nce ; for where the girth is equal in two animals, one may have much larger 

 lungs than the other. A circle contains more than an ellipfis of equal circumference ; and in propor 

 tion, as the ellipfis deviates from the circle, it contains lefs. A deep cheft, therefore, is not capa 

 cious, unlefs it is proportionally broad. 



The Pelvis. The pelvis is the cavity formed by the junction of the haunch bones with the bone of 

 the rump. It is eflential that this cavity mould be large in the female, that fhe may be enabled to 

 bring forth her young with lefs difficulty. \\ 7 hen this cavity is frnall, the life of the mother and her 

 offspring is endangered. 



The fize of the pel vis is chiefly indicated by the width of the hips, and the breadth of the twift, 

 \vhich is the fpace between the thighs. 



The breadth of the loins is always in proportion to that of the cheft and pelvis. 



The Head. The head fhould be fmall, by which the birth is facilitated. It fmallnefs affords other 

 advantages, and generally indicates that the animal is of a good breed. Horns are ufelefs to domeftic 

 animals, and they are often the caufe of accidents. It is not difficult to breed animals without them. 

 The breeders of horned cattle and horned (heep, fuftain a lofs more extenfive than they may con 

 ceive ; for it is not the horn alone, but alfo much more bone in the fkulls of fuch animals to fupport 

 their horns, for which the butcher pays nothing ; and befides this there is an additional quantity of 

 ligament and mufcle in the neck, which is of fmall value. The fkull of a ram with its horns, weighed 

 five times more than another fkull which was hornlefs. Both thefe fkulls were taken from fheep of the 

 fame age, each being four years old. 



The great difference in weight, depended chiefly on the horns ; for tire lower jaws were nearly 

 qual, one weighing feven ounces, and the other fix ounces and three quarters ; which proves that the 

 natural fize of the head was nearly the fame in both, independent of the horns,and the thicknefs of bone 

 which fupports them. 



In a horned animal the fkull is extremely thick. In a hornlefs animal it is much thinner, efpeci- 

 ally in that part where the horns ufually grow. To thofe who have not reflected on the fubjecl, it 

 may appear of little confequence whether fheep and cattle have horns; but on a very moderate calcu 

 lation, it would be found that the lofs in farming flock, and alfo in the diminution of animal food B 

 very confiderable, from the production of horns and appendages. A mode of breeding 

 which would prevent the production of thefe would afford a confiderable profit in anincreafe of meat 

 and wool, and other valuable parts. The length of the neck fliould be proportioned to the height of 

 the animal, that it may collect its food with eafe. 



The Muscles. The mufcles, and tendons which are their appendages, ftiould be large, by which tR 

 animal is enabled to travel with greater facility. 



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