NATURAL HISTORY. 169 



earth as he takes from it, and even enriches the ground 

 on which he feeds. 



That the ox is not so proper as the horse, the ass, 

 .nid the camel, for carrying burthens, the form of his 

 back and loins is a demonstration. But the thickness 

 of his neck, and the broadness of his shoulders point 

 him out as destined for the yoke. 



In some places they make him draw by the horns. 

 In support of this practice, it is alledged that when 

 yoked in this manner he is more easily managed. His 

 head is very strong, and he draws well by the horns, 

 but with much less advantage than by the shoulders. 

 Nature seems to have destined him for the plough. 

 The size of his body, the slowness of his motions, the 

 shortness of his legs, and even his tranquillity and 

 patience when he labours, seem to concur in rendering 

 him proper for the cultivation of the fields, and more 

 capable than any other of overcoming the constant 

 resistance that the earth opposes to his efforts. 



In those species of animals, which man has formed 

 into flocks, and where the multiplication is the princi- 

 pal object, the female is more useful than the male. 

 The produce of the cow is renewed every instant. 

 The flesh of the calf is wholesome and delicate. The 

 milk is the food of children ; butter relishes the most 

 of our dishes, and cheese is the common food of the 

 peasants. 



The cow arrives at the age of puberty in eighteen 

 months, and the bull in two years. .But they should 

 not be admitted to each other till they be three years 

 old. From three to nine years these animals are in 

 their greatest vigour. After this, neither cows nor 

 bulls are fit for any thing but to fatten for the slaugh- 

 ter, as at two years of age they are almost at their 



Vol. I. X 



