Sharpless on Escutcheons. 



43 



the teats, and ceases at the markings of the rear escutcheon, on and be- 

 tween the thighs. 



The breadth and extent forward of this front escutcheon, indicates the 

 capacity in the mature animal, of the front quarters of her udder. In 

 some cases this front escutcheon will be found of twice the extent that it 

 is in others, and is evidence of that much more yield. The dimensions 



on Figs. 6, 7, 8, are actual measurements — the first two of heifers, and the 

 last of a bull. If Fig. 7 represents four quarts as the yield per day of the 

 front quarters. Fig. 6 will represent eight, thus, if the rear yield is the 

 same, say four quarts in each cow, the total yield of Fig. 6 will be twelve 

 quarts, while that of Fig. 7 is but eight. This examination enables one 

 to see the size of the teats and their distance apart, and to test the loose- 

 ness and softness of the udder skin. It is marked precisely the same in 

 bulls, see Fig. 8, and can be easily examined at any age between one and 

 ten months. 



" Udders of all shapes hold milk, and some homely ones hold a large 

 quantity. B, C, D, and E, at a glance explain their deficiencies, both of 

 shape, lack of capacity, and bad style of teats. In udder A, we have the 

 perfect shape. * * * 



" Many think that the escutcheon of the bull is of but little moment, so 

 that he is a good-looker. So far is this from being the case, that a bull, 

 with a mirror like Fig. 4, or worse, will stamp his escutcheon on, and to 

 that extent damage his daughters, out of cows with escutcheons as choice 

 as Fig. 2. In this way the daughters of some of the best cows come very 

 ordinary, while, if you use a bull marked like Fig. 2, he will make poor 

 escutcheons better, and will improve the best. His injury or benefit will 

 be doubled, according to the escutcheon markings under his body in front 

 of his scrotum. Hence the importance of the dam of a bull being unex- 

 ceptionable in her udder and escutcheon. Her qualities, inherited by her 

 son, will be transmitted to his daughters. 



[Mr. Sharpless' bull Comet of M. is one of the finest Jersey bulls we 

 ever saw, and his escutcheon is unexceptionable, being a perfect curveline, 

 the one most commonly found on bulls.] 



" While careful as to escutcheons, we must not neglect the other essential 

 features of a good cow — the buckskin hide, the rich-colored skin, and the 

 fine bone. Let the hair be soft and thickly set, and let the skin be mellow. 

 This latter quality is easily determined by grasping between the thumb 

 and forefinger the skin at the rear of the ribs, or the double thickness at 

 the base of the flank that joins the stifle joint to the body, or that on the 



