BOOK VI. XX. i-xxii. 2 



rather less developed underneath, so that it forms a 

 straighter line and is more convenient for coupling 

 with the female. 



XXI. Cows also are most highly esteemed which cowa. 

 are very tall and long in shape, with large bellies, 

 very broad foreheads, eyes black and very wide-open, 

 horns elegant, smooth and inclined to blackness, 

 hairy ears, compressed cheek-bones, very large 

 dewlaps and tails, hoofs of moderate size, and small 

 legs. In other respects almost the same qualities 



are desirable in the females as in the males ; above 

 all things they should be young, since, when they 

 have passed ten years, they are useless for breeding. 

 On the other hand they should not be covered by the 

 bulls when they are less than two years old ; if, how- 2 

 ever, they conceive before reaching two years, it is 

 thought proper that their young should be taken from 

 them and their udders emptied for three days that 

 they may not feel pain, and that after that they 

 should be kept away from the milk-pail. 



XXII. You should also take care to hold an AnnuaJ re- 

 examination of your cows, as of all herds of cattle, j^erd.°' ^^ 

 every year; for those which have done with calf- 

 bearing and are old, since they have ceased bearing, 

 should be removed, and barren cows in particular, which 



are occupying the place of the fertile, must be got rid 

 of or broken in to the plough ; for on account of their 

 sterility they can endure toil and work quite as well 

 as bullocks. This kind of cattle requires sunny 2 

 pasture-ground near the sea in the winter ; but in 

 summer they like the shadiest parts of the woods or 

 mountains and pasturage on high ground rather than 



* elata Heinsius : ac laeta 8 : ac leta AR : alta a. 



179 



