136 Quadrupeds. 



THE COW. 



THE Cow is the female of the ox tribe, and her young 

 is called a calf. A young Cow, when under two years 

 old, is called a heifer. The Cow is as useful to mankind 

 as the ox, except in ploughing and drawing ; but to make 

 amends, she supplies us with milk, from which butter and 

 cheese are made. The Cow gives from six to twenty 

 quarts of milk in a day ; and the faculty of giving it in 

 such abundance, and with so much ease, is a striking 

 peculiarity, for this animal differs in this part of its 

 organization from most others, having a large udder, and 

 longer and thicker teats, than the largest animal we know 

 of ; it has likewise four teats, whilst all other animals of 

 the same nature have but two ; it also yields the milk 

 freely to the hand, whilst all other animals, at least those 

 that do not ruminate in the same manner, refuse it, unless 

 their young, or some adopted animal, be allowed to 

 partake it. The age of the Cow is known by her horns ; 

 at four a ring is formed at their roots, and every succeed- 

 ing year another ring is added. Thus, by allowing three 

 years before their appearance, and then reckoning the 

 number of rings, the creature's age may be exactly 

 known. 



Calves, when quite young, are helpless creatures, from 

 the great length and weakness of their legs. Sometimes 

 they are killed when young, and their flesh is then called 



