THE PROPER FORM AND SIZE OF THE NECK. 215 



more cellular and adipose substance is inserted, not only between the 

 different muscles, but between the little divisions or bundles of which 

 sach muscle is composed ; and, in fact, between the very fibres of 

 the muscle itself; and that to so great an extent, that in a well-fatted 

 beast it is almost impossible to meet with any simple muscle. The 

 whole is marbled — streaks of fat, enclosed in cellular substance, run 

 parallel with almost every fibre. This, at least, is the case with many 

 breeds of cattle, and always is in good cattle. 



THE PROPER FORM AND SIZE OF THE NECK. 



Some breeds of cattle used to be remarkable for the fineness of the 

 neck at the setting on of the head, and this was considered to be one 

 of their greatest beauties, as well at the surest proof of the purity of 

 their breed : this was long the case with the Devon ox, and when, by 

 chance, this fineness extended to the withers, and "was accompanied 

 by a shoulder almost as obhque as that of a thorough-bred horse, the 

 animal was imagined to be perfect. He w^as a beautiful and a valua- 

 ble animal, and particularly as this fineness of the neck and withers was 

 usually contrasted in him by a deep breast and an open and wide 

 bosom. That man, nevertheless, deserved the thanks of the Devon- 

 shire breeders, who first by selection and breeding a little diminished 

 this fineness of the neck ; he did not impair the general beauty of the 

 animal ; he did not lessen his activity in the slightest degree ; but he 

 increased his size, and his aptitude to fatten too. 



In the Ayrshire cow of tw^enty years ago we had a specimen of 

 the extent to which a clean neck and throat might be carried, without 

 perhaps diminishing at all the milking properties ; but materially to 

 the disadvantage of the farmer when her milking days were past. 

 This prejudice in favor of the small neck led the farmers even to 

 prefer their dairy-bulls according to the feminine aspect of their heads 

 and necks. Perhaps the disparity of size which then existed between 

 the northern and southern cattle might somewhat justify them in 

 choosing the smallest variety of the new breed. This, however, 

 having passed over, the Ayrshire breeder, still fond of a neck finely 

 shaped toward the head, has produced one a great deal thicker 

 toward the shoulder and breast ; and this not interfering, as expe- 

 rience has now taught him, with the milking qualities of the animal, 

 while it gives aptitude to fatten afterAvards. 



Mr. Marshall, describing the New Leicester breed, speaks of the 

 forend being long, but light to a degree of elegance ; the neck thin, 

 the chap clean, and the head fine ; the shoulders remarkably fine and 

 thin, as to bone, hut thickly covered with Jlesh, and not the S7nallest pro- 

 tuberance of bone diacernihle. He also thus speaks of Mr. Fowler's 

 celebrated bull Shakspeare : — His head, chap, and neck were remark- 

 ably fine and clean ; but his chest was extraordinarily deep, and hia 

 brisket down to his knees. 



