60 THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



some say, a hundred pounds. This animal is, as you 

 can well understand, carefully tended, for of course 

 such quantities of fat are valuable, being used for tallow 

 in the manufacture of soap, as butter, or to "lard" 

 meat that would otherwise be dry and tasteless. In 

 order, therefore, to assist the animal in drawing such 

 an enormous tail behind it, the shepherds fasten a board 

 under it, and sometimes add wheels, so that the tail 

 may be carried on a little cart, as shown in the drawing. 



The stomach of Ruminants is not the only portion of 

 their construction which is adapted to their habits. Their 

 eyes arc placed at the side of the head not in the front 

 so that they can see almost as far behind as before, and 

 the pupil or black central part is elliptical in form, and is 

 placed horizontally, so that they may be able to see arolind 

 them in a wide circle of vision ; whilst in animals of the 

 tiger tribe the pupil is formed like an ellipse, placed in its 

 narrow end, so that the animal whose habit it is to spring 

 on their prey have their circle of vision extended in an 

 upward direction ; whilst in man, to whom is given 

 dominion over the beast of the field and the fowl of the 

 air, the pupil is circular, so that he can see around him in 

 every direction. The ears of Ruminants, too, are placed 

 far back, and are very movable, so that they can be 

 quickly turned to catch sounds coming from any direction; 

 and their sense of smell is also particularly acute. 



Oxen are, of all animals, those which are the most service- 

 able to us. While alive, the male draws the plough and 

 performs other hard labour for us, whilst the female yields 

 the best milk, of which we make butter and cheese. 

 When, after being fattened, the ox is slain, its flesh, liver, 

 and heart are the staple articles of our food, and every 

 portion of the animal is useful to us. His blood, his 

 horns, hoofs, skin, hair, fat, bones, and intestines, are all 

 manufactured into articles which supply our daily wants. 



