6 GuENON ON Milch Cows. 



shape and the taste of the fruit, as for the time of ripening. And when a 

 tree-grower or an amateur is sufficiently skillful, he distinguishes marvel- 

 ously all these species one from another by a single inspection, and at 

 whatever time of year it may be. He knows equally well what exposure 

 it is necessary to give to each of them to obtain exquisite fruits. 



My first studies had been directed toward arboriculture. I have prac- 

 ticed with my father during many years. My principal occupation was 

 the cutting of trees, grafts, both splits and bandages, and by stud3'ing 

 vegetables, I had acquired the idea of and an insight into classifications. 



I was better prepared thus for my work of classifying the bovine race, 

 a work which no one had ever tried, either theoretically or practically. 



My classification of the characteristic signs, embraces all the races of 

 France and other countries, without distinction of sex or age. 



Unknown, up to this day, although they have always existed, these 

 signs have escaped all the world, even the sagacity of the most celebrated 

 painters, as well as that of veterinary doctors of the highest reputations of 

 all times. 



The appearance of my method should mark an era, for it opposes and 

 overturns all the prejudiced routines according to which people have 

 practiced up to this time. 



It opens a new era in an art in its infancy, in a science whose first prin- 

 ciples even were unknown. I should then expound it with the greatest 

 detail. 



This method is of the greatest simplicity, whatever has been possible 

 to be said of it, and whoever will become thoroughly familiar with the 

 escutcheon of the first order of each class, will be able to judge of all. 



Escutcheons are ten in number. They extend, according to their class, 

 from the centre of the four teats to the level of the upper extremity of 

 the vulva, and may extend in breadth from the middle of the hinder sur- 

 face of one leg, to the middle of the hinder surface of the other. By their 

 form or configuration, escutcheons characterize and distinguish the ten 

 families which together constitute my classification. Behold, then, t© 

 .what is reduced, in reality, this pretended immense complication. 



A special figure, placed at the end of each class, serves to indicate mon- 

 grel animals. 



Each of the classes or families is characterized by an escutcheon of 

 fixed form, always similar to itself, while one does not get out of that 

 class or that family, but variable in the dimensions of its surface. That 

 dimension or that surface should be estimated by square centimeters, but 

 that would be too complicated for the practical man ; since it depends on 

 the size of the individual, it is estimated by the limits of the escutcheon 

 placed on the hinder part of the animal. The extreme limits arc the 

 hams, the interior surface of the legs and vulva. The surface of the es- 

 cutcheon, of which the extent varies, has permitted mc to divide each class 

 or family into six orders, for each one of which I assign, in taking account 

 of the shape, the quantity, the continuation, and the quality of the milk. 



