DOMESTIC ANIMALS. '261 



constitution, these crosses are unexceptionable; and it is a 

 practice very common in this country, and judicious enough 

 where the whole produce is early destined for the shambles. 

 But when the progeny are designed for breeders, the prac- 

 tice should be branded with unqualified reprehension. 



THE GENERAL FORM AND CHARACTERISTICS OF 

 DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



Within certain limits, these may be reduced to a common 

 standard. All animals should have a good head, well set up; 

 a clean fine muzzle, and a bright, clear and full, yet per- 

 fectly placid eye. With the exception of the dog and cat, 

 whose original nature is ferocity, and whose whole life, 

 unless diverted from their natural instincts, is plunder and 

 prey ; and the jockey race-horse, which is required to take 

 the purse, at any hazard of life or limb to the groom; a mild 

 quiet eye is indispensable to the profitable use of the domes- 

 tic brute. The neck should be well formed, not too long, 

 tapering to its junction with the head, and gradually enlarging 

 to a firm, well expanded attachment to the back, shoulders 

 and breast. The back or chine should be short, straight and 

 broad ; the ribs springing out from the back bone nearly at 

 right angles, giving a rounded appearance to the carcass, 

 and reaching well behind to a close proximity to the hip ; 

 tail well set on, and full at its junction with the body, yet 

 gradually tapering to fineness ; thighs, fore-arms and crop, 

 well developed ; projecting breast or brisket ; the fore-legs 

 straight, and hind ones properly bent, strong and full where 

 attached to the carcass, but small and tapering below ; good 

 and sound joints; dense, strong bones, but not large; plenty of 

 fine muscle in the right places; and hair or wool fine and soft. 

 The chest in all animals should be full, for it will be invaria- 

 bly found, that only such will do the most work, or fatten 

 easiest on the least food. 



THE LUNGS. From the above principle, founded on long 

 experience and observation, Cline inferred, and he has laid 

 it down as an incontrovertible position, that the lungs should 

 always be large ; and Youatt expresses the same opinion. 

 This is undoubtedly correct as to working beasts, the horse 

 and the ox, which require full and free respiration, to enable 

 them to sustain great muscular efforts. But later physiolo- 

 gists, Playfair and others, perhaps from closer and more accu- 

 rate observations, have assumed that the fattening propensity 

 is in the ratio of the smallness of the lungs. Earl Spencer 



