BRITISH OXEN. 99 



monly slouching. [6.] The Sussex ca.ltle, found in that county and in Kent, are 

 of good size, strong bone, wcU-shapcd, thin skin, line hair ; color red, with white 

 faces; horns of uiediuni length, and bent iipv.'ard. The Suffolk duns, met with 

 in thai rounty and in Norfolk, are of medium size, slittty made; have the skin 

 of medium thickness, and shaguy hair; color generally iiglilish dun ; no horns. 

 The Welsh cattle, now going out of use very fast in England, are of medium size, 

 roughly made, have a thick skin, long shaggy hair, black color, sometimes black 

 and white ; horns thick and long, in some of medium length. 



Our various breeds of cattle are generally of hardy constitution. The Guern- 

 sey and Jersey cattle, though of very good constitution in their native islands, are 

 delicate when brought to England, requiring shelter and careful attention. 



All the species and breeds of oxen have only thirteen pairs of ribs, being a less 

 number than in either the American or European bisons. Certain bones, found 

 in the heart of all ruminating animals, except the horse and the stag, have been 

 mentioned by some writers on comparative anatomy as accidental ossifications, 

 found only in the adult animal, particularly in the male. This, however, is erro- 

 neous ; for these bones are constant, and are found in the calf as invariably as in 

 the adult, in both male and female. Professor Harrison thinks that the principal 

 purpose of these bones is to protect the aorta from being endangered bv the enor- 

 mous muscularity of the left ventricle in these animals, to serve as a lixed point 

 of action to muscular fibres, to prevent total closure of the ventricles, and to pre- 

 serve the large sinuses from the powerful resilience of the aorta, to which object 

 the very remarkable hard mass of fat found at the base of the heart iu these ani- 

 mals is also assistant. 



Oxen are greatly excited at scarlet, probably because, in a state of nature, they 

 do not frequently meet with this color ; which is, therefore, strange to them ; of- 

 fering, too, a strong contrast with the surrounding cool tones. "A bull," says 

 Barnaby Goodge, " will wax furious at the sight of any red thing ; and the ele- 

 phant and the lion cannot in nowise abide the sight of any white thing."* Mr. 

 R. D. -Hay, in an interesting work upon colors, remarks that though red-yellow 

 excites an agreeable, cheerful sensation, bright yellow-red conveys an intolerably 

 powerful impression, the active side being here in its highest energy. 



" It is, thi!r(!iure, no wonder that impetuous, robust, aiieiliicated men should be especially 

 pleased witli this color. Amoiij sav.ige iialioiis ijie iiicliuation for it has been universally re- 

 marked ; and when children, leit to themselves, begui to use tints, they never spare vennil- 

 lion and minium. In looking steadfastly at a. perfectly yellow-red surface, the color seems 

 actually to peueti-ate the organ. It produces an extreme excitement, and still acts thus when 

 somewhat darkened. A yellow-red cloth distiu-bs and enrages luiimals. I have known men 

 of education to whom its etfect was intolerable, if they ch.mced to see a person dressed in a 

 Bcai'let cloak (m a gray, cloudy day." 



In all domestic animals, the skin or hide forms one of the best means by which 

 we can estimate their fattening properties. In the handling of oxen, if the hide 

 be found soft and silky to the touch, it affords a proof of a tendency in the animal 



(6). These are nearly identical, probably, with the famous Bakeicell, or Leicentcr, or Dishley 



cattle, sometimes called Long-Horn — very straight on the back, tail setting high upon a line with 



the spine, back generally white, with long, ugly, hanging-down horns. They have gone out of 



fashion in England, chiefly on account of their laying their fat all on the outside, like a coat 



of plaster on a brick wall. Bakewell deser\'es great credit for the leading part he took in 



demonstrating the practicability of effecting groat and substantial improvement in the qualities 



of cattle, by a careful and judicious selection of such as, with the fewest defects, possessed in 



the highest degree the points and properties which were most desirable, and would make up 



au animal to yield the most profit in the shortest time. But while others took tlie hint and 



poshed the science far beyond anything he attained, he in some measure blurred bis owo 



character as a farmer by a sinister or churlish concealment or mystery, if not disingennoitsness. 



He thought it allowable, it would seem, to learn all he could, and to lock up from his neighbors 



and friends what he did learn, in his own breast. This may do in other arts and trades, but 



is utterly incompatible with all liberal notions of the character and duties of an airricuUnrist I 



Jt is the boast of the indu.slrions and f:vir-mindcd fanner, that as ho \\ orks in the open day, 



eo he wishes not to hide his lights under a bushel when they may be u.seful to his neighbora 



{Ed. Farm. Lib. 

 ♦ Bookc of ITusbaudry, :j86. p. l-i7, b. 



