DESCRIPTION OF THE NECK. 213 



21. The ijyriform (pear-shaped) muscle, found within the cavity 

 of the pelvis, and on the inside of the aitch-bone and the rump. 

 Large and composed of s»ft fibres, ia..the ox. Its office is to assist 

 in the extension of the haunch. 



22. Levator caudce hrevis (the shorter elevator of the tail). It is 

 used in common with other muscles to move the tail. 



23. Levator caudce longus (the long elevator of the tail). 



24. Depressor caudce, by which the tail is pressed upon the haunch, 

 and that sometimes with a force that would scarcely be thought 

 possible. 



25. The intertransversal musclea, whose oblique fibres nin from the 

 base to the edge of the bones of the tail, through its whole extent, 

 and by which the lateral motions are effected. By the union of all 

 of these muscles the tail is made a most eflfective instrument in 

 driving away or destroying thousands of w^inged blood-suckers, by 

 which the animal would otherwise be tormented. 



26. The rectus femoris, or straight muscle of the thigh, runs along 

 the whole of the anterior portion of the thigh, from the ihum to the 

 patella, or knee-cap. It is a very conspicuous muscle in the round, 

 and helps to extend the thigh and advance the haunch. 



27. The vasti muscles, so called from their occupying the greater 

 part of the thigh. The three branches are commonly distinct, but 

 they are not much developed, for they have not the work to do. 

 The butcher thinks that there is a great difference between the 

 round of the beast that has worked, and of another that has not ; 

 and he is right, for nothing tends so much to the development of 

 tne muscular system as regular exercise. 



28. The great adductor, or bringer forwan^ of the thigh. This 

 muscle occupies the external face of the posterior part of the thigh. 

 It rises as high as the spine of the sacmm, and reaches the anterior 

 portioH of the leg by three different branches or heads, and thence is 

 called the triceps adductor femoris. It bends the leg upon the thigh; 

 it carries the Avhole limb backward in the act of kicking, and also 

 assists in elevating tlie fore part of the body in preparing for a leap. 

 It is large, reaching along the spine, to the very angle of the croup. 



29. The semitendinosus, so called from its half-tendinous construc- 

 tion, constitutes, with the next muscle, the posterior and internal face 

 of the haunch and thigh. It is a flexor or bender of the leg. 



30. Adductor tibice longus (the long adductor, or bringer forward 

 of the thigh ;) sometimes called, from its construction, the semi-tendi- 

 nosus muscle. It is a flexor or bender tlie leg. 



The reader is now prepared to enter with us, so far as we can 

 without being too diyly anatomical, into the consideration of the form 

 and structure of the neck and trunk of cattle ; and particularly as con- 

 nected with the production of milk while living, and beef w^hen dead. 



