102 MILK-MIRRORS ON CALVES. 



be understood from the explanation of mirrors given 

 on a preceding page. 



In calves the mirrors show the shapes they are after- 

 wards to have, only they are more contracted, because 

 the parts which they cover are but slightly developed. 

 They are easily seen after birth ; but the hair which 

 then covers them is long, coarse, and stiff; and when 

 this hair falls off, the calf's mirror will resemble that of 

 the cow, but be of less size. 



With calves, however, it should be stated, in addition 

 to what has already been said, that the milk-mirrors are 

 more distinctly recognized on those from cows that are 

 well kept, and that they will generally be fully devel- 

 oped at two years old. Some changes take place in 

 the course of years, but the outlines of the mirror 

 appear prominent at the time of advanced pregnancy, 

 or, in the case of cows giving milk, at the times when 

 the udder is more distended with milk than at others. 



The classification adopted by Magne appears still 

 further to simplify the whole method, and to bring it 

 within the easy reach and comprehension of every one 

 who will examine the figures and the explanations con- 

 nected with them. He divides cows, according to the 

 quantity they give, into four classes : First, the very 

 good; second, the good; third, the medium; and 

 fourth, the bad. 



In the first class he places cows both parts of whose 

 milk-mirror, the mammary and the perinean, are large, 

 continuous, uniform, covering at least a great part of 

 the perineum, the udder, the inner surface of the 

 thighs, and extending more or less out upon the legs, 

 as in Figs. 29 to 33, with no interruptions, or, if any, 

 small ones, oval in form, and situated on the posterior 

 face of the udder, Figs. 29, 30, and 32. 



Such mirrors are found on most very good cows. 



