110 SPECIAL CASES. 



ers ; and it is safe to lay it down as a rule that, in the 

 selection of milch cows, as well as in the choice of 

 young animals as breeders, we should, by all means, 

 examine and consider the milk-mirror, but not limit or 

 confine ourselves exclusively to it, and that other and 

 long-known marks should be equally regarded. 



But there are cases where a knowledge and careful 

 examination of the form and size of the mirror becomes 

 of the greatest importance. It is well known that cer- 

 tain signs or marks of great milkers are developed only 

 as the capacities of the animal herself are fully and 

 completely developed by age. The milk-veins, for 

 instance, are never so large and prominent in heifers 

 and young cows as in old ones, and the same may be 

 said of the udder, and the veins of the udder and per- 

 ineum; all of which it is of great importance to observe 

 in the selection of milch cows. Those signs, then, which 

 in cows arrived at maturity are almost sufficient in 

 themselves to warrant a conclusion as to their merits 

 as milkers, are, to a great extent, wanting in younger 

 animals, and altogether in calves, of which there is 

 often doubt whether they shall be raised j and here a 

 knowledge of the form of the mirror is of immense 

 advantage, since it gives, at the outset, and before any 

 expense is incurred, a somewhat reliable means of 

 judging of the future milking capacities of the animal 

 or, if a male, of the probability of his transmitting 

 milking qualities to his offspring. 



It will be seen, from an examination of the points of 

 a good milch cow, that, though the same marks which 

 indicate the greatest milking qualities may not indicate 

 any great aptitude to fatten, yet that the signs which 

 indicate good fattening qualities are included among 

 the signs favorable to the production of milk, such as 

 soundness of constitution, indicated by good organs of 



