THE MILK VESSEL. 75 



to uses, and the recognition of this led the breeder 

 to seek at first an increase of its size, and at a later 

 period an economy of its form ; and these two united 

 produce a large part of that condition which we call 

 quality. The changes produced in the milk-vessel 

 necessarily occasioned correlative changes in the cow ; 

 and our plan is to follow in this line of divergence 

 until we present the completed animal, our ideal of 

 the perfect dairy cow. 



The desired udder (and in the best specimens of a 

 cow the udder desired is very nearly realized) is com- 

 posed of four glands, of which the udder is the sling. 

 These glands are enclosed and separated by a fibrous 

 tissue, which, reflected from the walls of the abdomen, 

 forms a septa and support. These glands are flattened 

 rather than pointed or oval, as in some other breeds, 

 and these, as well as the septa, are noteworthy for the 

 elasticity and tone of their tissues, as well as for their 

 freedom from fat or muscular matter. The udder ac- 

 cordingly should be close to the body, level and broad, 

 and should derive its capacity from the extent of its 

 attachments. The glands being flattened, free from 

 fat, and possessing a tone or milking habit, make lit- 

 tle show when not in use, but snugly attached to the 

 abdomen, are covered and concealed by the soft skin 

 of the milk-vessel, so wrinkled and creased and 

 folded as to convey to the unthoughtful observer an 

 incorrect idea of its capabilities for extension. Yet 

 the looseness of the skin, when considered in connec- 

 tion with the distant attachment, the glandular feel 

 and other well-known signs, afford to the trained ob- 

 server indications of large usefulness. 



