214 CATTLE. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE NECK. 



The neck of the ox (see cut of skeleton, p. 143,) is composed of 

 seven bones. 



In cattle there is great shortness of the neck generally — shortness, 

 and yet magnitude of every bone — the avoidance of smooth surface, 

 and the springing out, above and below, and on one side and the 

 other, of processes which are long, broad, and roughened ; and there 

 is not an ehistic movement about the whole of this part of the animal, 

 and the neck is level. The intention of nature is plain enough in the 

 construction of the neck of the ox. All these widened, roughened, 

 tuberous bones are for the attachmemt of muscles — the accumulation 

 of flesh. True, these are not the prime parts of the animal, but we 

 see the commencement of the principle. The animal was destined to 

 produce flesh and fat for our nourishment 



A little of the arched form of the neck mny be traced in the Devon 

 ox, and is no detriment either to his appearance or his actual value ; 

 although common consent seems to have determined that the line 

 from the horns to the withers should scarcely deviate from that of 

 the back. Is this trait of the thorough bred horse, here appearing 

 in cattle, connected with that activity in work for which this breed 

 has ever been unrivaled ? The Sussex, and Hereford, and Pembroke, 

 and Welsh, generally, and all the Scots, horned or hornless, have, occa- 

 sionally at least, this rising of the forehand ; and we must be per- 

 mitted still to retain this form of the neck, as one of the chai*ncteristics. 

 and no defect, of the middle-horns, who, in particular districts, and 

 for particular purp. ses, w\M still remain and be duly valued, when 

 the triumph of the short-horns is complete in then' universal diffusion. 



We must go even a 'ittle further than this, and claim the rising 

 crest as an essential ponit in every good bull of every breed. It shall 

 be what, in the majority of cases, it perhaps is, nothing more than an 

 accumulation of fat about the ligament of the neck, and the splenius 

 and complejius muscles ; but it indicates that broad base of muscle 

 beneath — that bulk and strength of neck, so indicative of the true 

 mascuhne character. We refer to the Devon bull (p. 17), to whom, 

 indeed, it belongs, in virtue of his breed — and we refer, also, to the 

 West Highland bull (p. 42), who has the same claim to it, and also, 

 to the Old Craven bull (p. 82) ; to the New Leicester bull (p. 88), 

 and even to the short-horned bull (p 109). 



The actual bulk of muscle, however, in any part of the o# is not so 

 much greater as the extended and roughened surfaces would lead us 

 to imagine. The head, or the insertion of the muscle, may be spread 

 over the whole surface of the bone ; but we have not proceeded far 

 in our examination of that muscle, before we fine? that its structure, 

 at least in the unworked ox, is not compact muscle. A great deal 



