RESTFULNESS IN ANIMALS IOI 



are useful as well as because of the comfort which they 

 bring. 



Unrest and irregularity. Domestic animals come to 

 look for food at a definite time when they are fed with 

 reasonable regularity. Although they cannot of course con- 

 sult a timepiece, they come to know almost to a minute 

 when the time for feeding arrives. That they are in the 

 expectant mood is shown by cattle in the stalls usually 

 rising to their feet when the hour for feeding draws near, 

 and by those in the field being at the feeding troughs when 

 they are accustomed to get their food. "The ox knoweth 

 his owner and the ass his master's crib." Sheep will 

 frequently proclaim this expectancy by bleating if there is 

 any delay, and swine above all animals will proclaim their 

 sense of neglect by the unanimity which they show in 

 making hideous noises. Delay in feeding in such instances 

 means unrest, a condition which can be well understood by 

 the individual who goes beyond the accustomed hour in 

 taking food. 



The same is true of furnishing water. Where water 

 is accessible at all times, of course animals will help them- 

 selves when they want it, but when supplied only at inter- 

 vals they come to look for it at such times. The system 

 craves it because of the habit begotten, and experiences 

 disquietude when it is not supplied on time. 



It is equally advantageous to milk cows with unfail- 

 ing regularity. When the usual hour arrives they expect 

 to be relieved of the milk which they have been making, 

 otherwise its retention interferes more or less with milk 

 elaboration for the next milking. Experience has shown 

 that maximum production in milk cannot be realized from 

 any cow from which the milk is not regularly withdrawn. 

 It has been noticed that even the unhallowed rest which 

 on Sabbath morning sometimes leads to delay in milking 

 the cows of a herd, sensibly decreases the milk flow from 

 two or three milkings immediately following. 



