110 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i. 



are large, continuous, and uniform, and cover at least a large 

 portion of the perinseum, the inside of the thighs and the udder, 

 extending moreover, with little or no break, more or less over the 

 limbs ; elliptical in shape and situated in the posterior face of the 

 udder. The escutcheon marks just described, although observed in 

 very good cows, are not always indicative of them, for they are also 

 found in middling or mediocre animals. But the cows may be 

 considered first-rate as milkers, if, in the absence of a well- developed 

 escutcheon, they possess the following marks. Veins of the perinseum, 

 varicose and visible externally, or at least easily made so by com- 

 pression at the b ise of the perinseum ; veins of the udder large and 

 knotty ; milk veins frequently double, and equal on both sides of the 

 animal, and forming zig-zag or wavy lines within the belly. In 

 addition to the marks shown by the veins and by the escutcheon, the 

 udder should be large and yielding, of homogeneous texture, having a 

 thin skin covered with fine hair, and yielding or shrinking much under 

 the process of milking. The chest should be ample, and a good 

 constitution displayed by regular appetite and a disposition to drink 

 much ; the skin soft and supple (fine touch), hair short and soft, head 

 small, horns fine and smooth, eye quick but gentle, fine neck, and 

 feminine air. 



Second Class. Good Cows. These 'present the mammary portion of 

 the escutcheon well developed ; but the perinseal portion is either 

 wanting or but partially developed. The milking qualities of cows 

 should be doubted where large veins do not accompany the escutcheon. 

 This remark is applicable in special degree to those cows which 

 have had many calves, and are in full milk ; for, be the escutcheon 

 never so well developed, the cows are middling or bad, and do 

 not belong to either the first or second class, if the veins of the 

 udder are not in considerable numbers, and the milk veins under the 

 belly are not large. The general characteristics, as noted in the first 

 class, are of course not to be neglected. 



Third Class. Mediocre Cows. Possess the lower tuft of the 

 escutcheon of the mammary part little developed or indented, and 

 the perinseal portion irregular, narrow, and contracted. The udder 

 in cows of this class is small, with hard skin, and will shrink little on 

 being milked. The veins of the perinseum are not visible, and the veins 

 of the belly are small and straight. The head is large, skin stiff and 

 thick (bad touch), and the animal is often peevish and restless. 



Fourth Class. Bad Cows. Possess escutcheons of very small extent ; 

 no veins are visible in the udder or the perinseum, and the milk veins are 

 feebly developed. The cows of this class are generally in good con- 

 dition, and showy, taking animals. The thighs are fleshy, the skin 

 hard and thick, neck thick, head and horns large, and the latter of 

 large diameter at the base. 



Breeders interested in this phase of the subject will find very full 

 information thereon in a brochure of 150 pages, published by Messrs. 

 Triibner & Co., under the title " How to Select Cows; or the Guenon 

 System simplified, explained, and practically applied," by Willis P. 



