32 DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



CATTLE. 



CATTLE is a term applied to the lastly, the hair makes it possible for us to 



whole of that large variety of domestic live in plastered houses, 

 animals known as the Bovine family. In olden times a man's wealth seems to 



Naturalists have divided them into two have been measured by the number of 



primary groups the hump-backed cattle cattle he owned, and during the same 



(Bos Indicus) and the straight-backed period cattle were used as money, or a 



cattle (Bos Taurus). medium of exchange. Later when metal 



Some naturalists claim that these two coinage came into use in Greece the 



groups are really only different varieties image of an ox was stamped on the new 



of the same species, while others claim money in commemoration of the old sys- 



that the marked differences in structure, tem. The same idea has left its impres- 



habits and voice are such as would indi- sion on the languages of Europe as seen 



cate a specific distinction. in the Latin word pecunia and the Eng- 



The hump-backed variety is chiefly lish word "pecuniary," both words being 

 found in India and Africa, while the derived from pecus cattle, 

 straight-backed cattle are common in all America is the great cattle-producing 

 parts of the globe. Cattle seem to have country of the world. In the early set- 

 been domesticated as far back as written tlement of this country the immense 

 and traditional history will take us. tracts of uncultivated grass lands were 



The remains of the cow and the ox well adapted to cattle-raising, and many 

 have been found as a part of the many were the large herds to be seen west of 

 evidences of the oldest civilizations, their the Ohio river on the great prairies of the 

 bones having been discovered in the same country once known as the Northwest 

 caves with stone axes and stone knives. Territory. But as men came with their 

 That the cow contributed immensely to plows the herds were gradually driven 

 the earlier civilizations cannot be doubt- farther and farther west. Cattle are very 

 ed. Besides contributing to the daily interesting animals when we once get ac- 

 bill of fare she became the common beast quainted with them, 

 of burden, drawing the rudest of plows, The writer, when a boy, had some ex- 

 sleds and carts, and in fact she does the perience herding cattle on an Illinois prai- 

 same to-day to some extent in many parts He. In this particular herd of which I 

 of the world. wish to speak there were about seven 



The common straight-backed cattle, as hundred head and it required two of us 

 we know them in our country, remain an and also two good shepherd dogs to keep 

 important factor even in this stage of them in control during the early part of 

 civilization; while they are not generally the herding season or until we got them 

 used as beasts of burden, they furnish "broken in," as the old herders used to 

 millions of gallons of milk and number- say. These cattle had been wintered on 

 less pounds of butter, and finally sacri- various farms surrounding the herd 

 ficing their entire bodies to the use of grounds, so when they were brought to 

 man. The principal part of the body gether in the spring there were about fif- 

 goes to the meat block to become teen different clans to contend with, each 

 steaks, roasts and soup bones ; the refuse clan having its recognized leader. Now, 

 flesh going to the manufacture of soaps these leaders are always a source of 

 largely; the hide furnishes most of our trouble to the herder, and especially is 

 leather, the bones become fertilizer, the this true for the first few weeks after 

 hoofs and horns make our glue, and bringing them together. 



