24 THE COW. 



making war upon any other tribe. Content with the 

 pastures where they are placed, they seldom shew a 

 desire to roam ; and, unless they are denied a requisite 

 supply, never evince an inclination to change. 



As Nature has furnished these animals with an appe- 

 tite both for coarse and simple fare, she has enlarged 

 the capacity of their intestines, so as to take in a very 

 great supply of food, and has given them four distinct 

 stomachs through which it must successively pass. 



QUADRUPEDS OF THE COW-KIND. 



Amidst the various animals with which the world 

 abounds, none is more estimable than the Cow; the 

 horse is in general the property of the rich ; the sheep 

 thrive but in a flock, and constantly require the utmost 

 care ; but the cow is the poor man's pride, his riches, 

 and support; the climate and pasture of Great Britain 

 seem peculiarly to agree with its nature and frame, for 

 as it is more regardful of the quantity than the quality 

 of its food, in many countries it finds it difficult to ob- 

 tain a sufficient supply. In different parts of England 

 great varieties are seen, occasioned by the richness or 

 poverty of the soil ; but in Scotland, Ireland, and the 

 Isle of Man, they very much decrease in size. 



The age of this animal is easily known, either by ex- 

 amining the teeth or horns; the under jaw is furnished 

 with eight cutting teeth, the two centre ones of which, 

 at ten months, drop out, and are replaced by others, 

 broader, but not so white ; at the age of sixteen months 

 the two next disappear, and their place is supplied in 

 the same manner as before : thus at the end of every 

 six months the creature loses and regains its teeth, so 

 that when it arrives at the age of three years the whole 



