28 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



degree than others, owing to the capaciousness 

 of her udder, and the size and form of her teats. 



The Cow goes nine months with young, and 

 seldom produces more than one at a time. 



It is a curious fact, that when a Cow happens to 

 bring forth two calves, one of them a male, the 

 other a female, the former is a perfect animal, but 

 the latter is incapable of propagation, and is well 

 known to farmers under the denomination of a Free 

 Martin. It resembles the Ox, or spayed Heifer, in 

 figure; and is considerably larger than the Cow. It 

 is sometimes preserved by the farmer, for the pur- 

 pose of yoking with the Oxen, or fattening for the 

 table. Mr. Hunter observes, that the flesh of the 

 Free Martin, like that of the Ox, is much finer in 

 the fibre than either the Bull or Cow. It is sup- 

 posed to exceed that of the Heifer in delicacy of 

 flavour, and bears a higher price at market. 



By great industry and attention to their breed, 

 and by judicious mixtures with those of other coun- 

 tries, our horned cattle are universally allowed to 

 be the finest in Europe ; although such as are 

 purely British are inferior in size to those on many 

 parts of the continent. 



