THE DEVONS. 



impairing, in the slightest degree, his activity, his beauty, or his pro- 

 pensity to fatteL. 



DEVON ox. 

 Commencing to Feed. 



There are few things more remarkable about the Devon cattle than 

 the comparative smallness of the cow. The bull is a great deal lesi 

 than the ox, and the cow. smaller than the bull. This is some disad- 

 vantage, and the breeders are aware of it ; for, although it may not 

 be necessary to have a large bull, and especially as those of any 

 extraordinary size are seldom handsome in all their points, but some- 

 where or other present coarseness or deformity, it is almost impossi- 

 ble to procure large and serviceable oxen, except from a somewhat 

 ■roomy cow. These cows, however, although small, possess that 

 roundness and projection of the two or three last ribs, which make 

 them actually more roomy than a careless examination of them would 

 indicate. The cow is particularly distinguished for her full, round, 

 clear eye, the gold-colored circle round the eye, and the same color 

 on the inside skin of the ear. The countenance cheerful, and the 

 muzzle orange or yellow. The jaws free from thickness, and the 

 throat from dewlap. The points of the back and the hind quarters 

 different from those of other breeds, having more of roundne« and 

 beauty, and being free from angles. 



