,THK OX KINB, 73 



s, ami absolutely necessary to our well-being, if not 

 to our existence ; while the latter, notwithstanding 

 his extensive and universally acknowledged utility, 

 ini^ht be left out of the system of animal creation 

 with less detriment to the human species, than would 

 ensue from the omission, or extinction of the ox and 

 the sheep. Ought \ve not, then, my clear Sir, to ad- 

 njire and adore the infinite goodness of Him, who,, by 

 creating for our use both the one and the other, has 

 so kindly considered our wants, and provided for their 

 supply ; and consulted not only our necessities, but 

 also our convenience ? 



The various animals, which ruminate or chew the 

 cud, living wholly on vegetables, have no induce- 

 ment to make war on any other species ; and being 

 confined to grain and herbage for their nourishment, 

 their stomachs and intestines have received from na- 

 ture a conformation which enables them to receive a 

 large quantity of food : for this purpose they are 

 furnished with four stomachs. The food, after masti- 

 cation, descends into the first of these, and after re- 

 maining there some time, is forced up again into tlis 

 mouth, where it undergoes a second chewing. After 

 this, it 'passes into the second stomach, and thence 

 descends through the various convolutions of the iu- 

 testines. Here again, my dear Sir, we must admire 

 the wisdom of the Creator, in thus giving to these 

 animals an interior conformation which enables them 

 to receive large quantities of aliment, and to retain it 

 in the stomach a length of time, sufficient for the ex- 

 traction of such a quantity of nutritious matter as is 

 necessary for their support. 



Of the different animals of this class, I shall, in the 

 first place, call your attention to 



THE OX KIND. 



Among the various quadrupeds with which the 

 earth abounds, as none is more necessary to the exis- 

 tence of the human species than the Cow, so, like- 

 wise, none appears to be more extensively propa- 

 gated ; for it is found to exist from the polar circles 

 tfc the equator, although it appears liable to greater 



