244 



THE OX. 



vest. The rustic writers of the Romans, in their lessons 

 on the treatment of the labouring Ox, shew how much of 

 real humanity entered into their feelings regarding this 

 ancient and docile assistant of the husbandman. They 

 direct that the length of .the furrow shall not exceed 120 

 paces, or else that the oxen shall have a time for breath- 

 ing allowed them before they are urged to renewed eiforts. 

 The ploughman is required to shift the yoke, that their backs 

 may not be galled, to moisten their mouths with water, 

 and to strengthen them with wine when they are suffering 

 from fatigue. Even the safeguard of the laws was thrown 

 around these humble servants of the farm. To destroy them 

 wantonly was a public crime. A Roman citizen, we are 

 informed by Pliny, was condemned to exile, because he had 

 killed his labouring ox, to gratify the appetite of a capricious 

 boy ; and other examples are on record, to testify how greatly 

 the useful services of the Ox were valued. The Celtic na- 

 tions of Europe seem to have possessed somewhat of the 

 same sentiments, mixed with religious feelings. Even to 

 our own day, certain superstitious remembrances are attached 

 to the Red Cow, whose milk is believed to be a charm for 

 certain ailments. 



The Ox contributes to human support, by other means than 

 his strength employed in labour, or his body rendered to us 

 when dead. The female yields her milk in quantity not only 

 sufficient to rear her own offspring, but to afford a salutary 

 food to her protectors. She gives it with a facility and in 

 an abundance unknown in the case of any other animal. 

 While most of the mammalia will refuse to yield their milk 

 unless their young be suffered to partake of it, the Cow gives 

 it beyond the period of maternal solicitude as freely as when 

 her young is before her eyes. She is every where docile, 

 patient, and gentle. She remains quiescent with the herd, 

 or shares with humbleness her portion of the shed which is 

 their common shelter. She obeys the commands of her keeper, 

 and recognises the milkmaid's voice. 



