70 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i. 



so fine, and so thin, as almost to appear transparent ; and lastly, if you 

 are incredulous, a look inside the ear will be sufficient to convince you 

 of the excellence of the animal before you. But add to these points 

 so essential in a dairy cow her benevolent looking head, with its large 

 dreamy eyes and clear buff nose, and the beautiful coat of red or 

 lemon fawn and white, and you are justified in adding the word 

 beautiful to the quality of good. In appearance she is rich-looking, 

 long-bodied, with a mild and contented expression, always free from 

 nervousness, has a gentle face, quiet temper, and is full of affection. 

 Her head is not delicate, on the average not beautiful, but it is hand- 

 some, of good form, long, with a broad muzde, enabling her to take 

 large mouthfuls. 



"The hides of good cows vary considerably in thickness, some are 



Photo by O. H. Parsons. 



Fig. 24. Guernsey Cow, "Fi-Fi." 



First in the oldest class at the Royal Agricultural Society's Show at Lincoln, 1907. 

 The property of Mr. E. A. Hambro, Hayes Place, Kent. 



thin, fine-coated and soft, others thicker but mellow and unctuous. A 

 moderately thick skin but soft, mellow, loose with elastic touch, are 

 indications of health. Her udder is large, set with good size teats. 

 Both eye and hand find evidence that all the secretions are rich and of high 

 quality, and a careful examination prepares the mind for understanding 

 why the butter from Guernsey milk possesses qualities that are not 

 obtainable from the milk of any other animal. The skin colour is a 

 point in which the Guernsey cow excels all breeds. It is due to a 

 secretion of an oily fat which resembles in colour the butter yielded 

 by the cow. Thus in many common cows, and cows of the beef breeds, 

 high skin colour is rare ; among the Ayrshires it is not uncommon ; 

 among the Jerseys frequent, and highly prized; while among the 

 Guernseys exceptions are rare. The colour is richer in summer and 



