216 CATTLE. 



The short-horn, in his state of greatest and most unnatural fatness, 

 has, or ought to have, a tendency tp fineness of the neck, at the 

 setting on of the head, however that neck may rapidly increase in 

 bulk, and, in the opinion of some, give too great a weight to the fore- 

 quarters. 



The splenius, trapezius, and complexus muscles are those which have 

 most to do with the usual bulk of the superior part of the neck, and 

 with that which 'it may attain under the process of fattening. The 

 splenius may be seen at fig. 1, p. 202 ; the trapezius is depicted at 

 fio-. 11, p. 208 ; and the rhomboideus longus, with which the trapezius 

 is united, is brought into view at fig. 3, p. 211. The complexus major 

 is situated under them. Some of it rises as low as the transverse 

 processes of the four or five first bones of the back, and from all, 

 except the two higher of the bones of the neck. It therefore has its 

 greatest bulk about the lower part of the neck, and on it, and the 

 fatty matter connected with it, the form and bulk of that portion of 

 the neck depend. Its office is to raise the neck, and elevate and 

 protrude the head. The form of the under part of the neck is much 

 influenced by the levator humeri, which is seen at fig. 4, p. 202 ;■ fig. 

 9, p. 208 ; and, still lower down, by the pectoral muscle, for there 

 is but one in the ox, seen at fig. 13, p. 208. Considering, however, 

 the laxity of the muscular fibre in the ox, and the interposition of fatty 

 matter in every part of the muscular system, this muscle can acquire 

 considerable bulk, and is that on which the form and bulk of the 

 neck, at its lower and more important part, principally depend. 

 Whatever may have been said of fine and small necks, the neck must 

 rapidly thicken as it descends, or we shall have a general lightness 

 of carcass, which will render the animal comparatively worthless as a 

 grazing beast. 



There are other muscles, however, placed under the complexus — 

 viz., the complexu.* minor, and the large and small 7'ecti, and oblique 

 muscles, concerned in the lateral motion of the head, which have 

 considerable size, and contribute materially to the bulk of the neck. 



THE ARTERIES OF THE NECK. 



Before we leave the neck, we should describe the principal blood- 

 vessels which are brought into view in the cut at p. 202. Tlie caro- 

 tid artery (fig. 26, pp. 202 and 205,) and some of its ramifications, 

 are the only arteries that we could bring into view. The carotid 

 artery on either side proceeds from the heart — escapes from the 

 chest with the windpipe and the gullet; and, approaching the 

 windpipe, and clinging to its posterior surface, climbs the neck, 

 supplying the different parts with blood, until it arrives at the larynx, 

 where it divides into two branches — the external and internal. The 

 extenial spreads over the fa3e and external part of the head — the 



