228 ANIMALS OF THE 



up with an imaginary good, while they monopo- 

 lize the real benefits of nature. 



In those countries where the men are under 

 better subordination, this excellent animal is of 

 more general advantage. In Germany, Poland, 

 and Switzerland, every peasant keeps two or three 

 cows, not for the benefit of his master, but for 

 himself. *The meanest of the peasants there kills 

 one cow at least for his own table, which he salts 

 and hangs up, and thus preserves as a delicacy all 

 the year round. There is scarcely a cottage in 

 those countries that is not hung round with these 

 marks of hospitality; and which often make the 

 owner better contented with hunger, since he has 

 it in his power to be luxurious when he thinks 

 proper. A piece of beef hung up there is con- 

 sidered as an elegant piece of furniture, which, 

 though seldom touched, at least argues the pos- 

 sessor's opulence and ease. But it is very differ- 

 ent, for some years past, in this country, where 

 our lower rustics at least are utterly unable to 

 purchase meat any part of the year, and by them 

 even butter is considered as an article of extrava- 

 gance. 



The climate and pasture of Great Britain, how- 

 ever, is excellently adapted to this animal's mode- 

 rate nature ; and the verdure and the fertility of 

 our plains are perfectly suited to the manner of 

 its feeding, for wanting the upper fore-teeth, it 

 loves to graze on a high rich pasture.* This ani- 



* [Quadrupeds of the cow kind have the horns hollow within, and turned 

 forward in the form of crescents : they have eight fore-teeth in the under 

 jaw, but none in the upper, their place being supplied by a hard membrane ; 

 and ^hey have no canine teeth in cither jaw. J 



