170 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 



pointing on the hind part upward, except if '^he be a 

 very good cow, she may have an oval spot of hair grow- 

 ing downward, a little above each hind teat ; if not quite 

 so good, one spot above the left hind teat ; if a liule 

 poorer still, one spot above the right hind teat; hair 

 thick, short and glossy ; color red, dun, or brindle, with 

 a light, golden colored ring around the eyes and muzzle." 



MARKS OF A GOOD WORKING OX. 



Mr. Asa G. Sheldon, of Wilmington, who has grea* 

 experience in cattle, particularly in working oxen, anc* 

 is regarded as the best authority, gives the following : 



" Long head, broad and oval between the eyes ; the 

 eye full, keen and pleasant. Such marks denote ability 

 to receive instruction and a readiness to obey. The 

 short-faced ox starts quick at the whip, and soon forgets 

 it. The black-eyed ox is inclined to run away. An ox 

 with very large horns near the head is apt to be lazy, 

 and he cannot endure heat well. 



" Forward legs straight ; toes straight forward ; hoof 

 broad, not piked; the distance short between the ankle 

 and knee. These properties enable an ox to travel on 

 pavements and hard ground. If the ox toes out, the 

 strain comes on the inside claw, and when travelUng on 

 a hard road, he will be lame at the joint between the 

 hoof and the hair. When the toes turn out, the knees 

 bend in. An ox with crooked knees is apt to become 

 lame by holding heavy loads down hill. 



" Breast full ; straight on the back ; round ribs, pro- 

 jecting out as wide as the hip bones. These are indica- 

 tions of stiength and a good constitution." 



TO ASCERTAIN THE AGE OF CATTLE. 



By their Teeth. The calf is usually born with two 

 fore or cutting teeth, and at a month old the whole eight 

 are cut. The age is then guessed at by the wearing 

 down of these teeth, until the calf is eight months old, 

 when they begin to become narrower and smaller. At 

 eight months the two centre teeth are smaller than the 



