HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 27 



must be allowed that the Cow, in its faculty of 

 giving, in such abundance and with so much 

 ease, its milk, which forms so rich and nutritive an 

 aliment for the human species, is a striking ex- 

 ample of this subordination to the interests of 

 mankind: for this animal differs, in some parts of 

 its organization, from most others, having a larger 

 and more capacious udder, and longer and thicker 

 teats, than the largest animal we know of: it has 

 likewise four teats, whilst all other animals of the 

 same nature have but two: it also yields the milk 

 freely to the hand, whilst most animals, at least 

 those that do not ruminate in the same manner, 

 refuse it, except their own young, or some adopted 

 animal, be allowed to partake. 



The Cow having four teats is a striking peculiar- 

 ity; the number in all other animals bearing some 

 proportion to the number of young ones they bring 

 forth at a time; as in the Bitch, the Cat, the 

 Sow, &c. 



The Cow will yield her milk as freely, and will 

 continue to give it as long, without the aid of the 

 calf, as if it were permitted to suck her constantly. 

 This is not the case with the Ass; which, it is well 

 known, will soon grow dry, if her foal be not per- 

 mitted to suck part of her milk every day. 



Upon the whole, it appears that the property of 

 yielding milk, without the young one, is confined 

 to those kinds of ruminating horned animals which 

 have cloven hoofs, four stomachs, long intestines, 

 are furnished with suet, and have no fore teeth 

 in the upper jaw ; that Cows, Sheep, Goats, and 

 Deer, are of this kind, and no other ; and that 

 the Cow has this property in a more eminent 



