THE MAMMALIA— MAN AND BEASTS. 



101 



which is a very different circumstance of their condition. In their native haunts, 

 they always endeavour to withdraw themselves from excesses of every kind, whe- 

 ther of heat or cold, moisture or dryness, as well as from storms, tempests, violent 

 winds, or the attacks of their enemies, while they are free to chann;e, whenever they 

 please, either their place or position. It therefore becomes a serious error, through 

 inattention to these circumstances, to expose domestic animals to the inclemencies 

 of the weather, without the slightest shelter, for the mere purpose of avoiding the 

 •onunon disadvantages of a stable. We have often seen flocks of Sheep shut up in 

 narrow parks, exposed in winter to the frost, in summer to the burning heat of the sun, 

 in spring and autumn to excessive moisture, and in all seasons to the sudden changes of 

 the atmosphere, and consequently to the most sudden alternations of temperature. 

 The natural consequences of this mismanagement have invariably followed, while their 

 undue mortality and impoverished condition fully demonstrated, that animals exposed 

 to all kinds of weather are far from being in that state of nature to which it was 

 intended to reduce them. Their ameUoration, their prosperity, and even their 

 existence, are compromised as much by this injudicious treatment, as they would 

 have been by the most confined, uncleanly, and ill-constructed stable. 



It is no doubt true, that we should endeavour to bring animals to a real state of 

 nature, and place the enjoyments of Hberty and fresh air as much as possible within 

 their reach. Yet this can only be done effectually by giving them the power, 

 whenever circumstances permit of going alternately, under cover or in the field, 

 by having some enclosed space where they may be free to move, and with a sufficient 

 number of retreats or sheltered spots, to which they can resort at those times when 

 there is more real inconvenience and disadvantage in being without than within. This 

 is the only legitimate way in which we can approximate the domestic animals to their 

 natural condition. 



To dress their coats occasionally, and clear the entire surface of their bodies from all 

 impurities, by the aid of suitable instruments, are attentions imperatively required by 

 the state of domestication, and are apparently indispensable to the health of the most 

 useful animals which have submitted to the empire of Man. As the skin of these ani- 

 mals is perforated by an infinite number of pores, or orifices of the smaller arteries ad- 

 joining the epidermis, there exhales continually during the healthy state of the animals 

 an excrementitial vapour, which has been considered in Man to surpass in quantity all 

 the other evacuations taken together. This important function, known by the name of 

 insensible transpiratioii, is indispensable to the well-being of all the domestic animals, 

 and it cannot be arrested, or even suspended or modified, without being attended with 

 injury to the system. When this function is performed regularly and suitably, it 

 elears the skin, maintains it in the supple state fitted for the play of all the organs, 

 and smooths as well as nourishes the hair, which then looks sleek and glossy. When, 

 however, by any cause, this passage for the superfluous humours has been intercepted, 

 they either flow back towards the centre, or become fixed in the exterior. In either 

 case the vital functions are disturbed, and a great number of dangerous maladies are 

 the consequence. 



These accidental derangements of their natural order may be observed among all 

 animals, but they are more frequent and acquire greater intensity with the domestic 

 quadrupeds, especially such as labour severely or ai*e in course of fattening, from their 

 being more exposed to the causes whence they arise. Being often obliged to remain 

 itationary for a considerable length of time, and most frequently in narrow and con- 

 fined places, exposed to a continual and abundant dust, with the exhalations arising 

 from their food or other matters, various foreign substances fix themselves upon the 

 akin, and if daily care be not taken to remove all these obstructions to the insensible 

 transpiration, their general health becomes seriously affected, and thus the improve- 

 ment of the breed may be retarded or their fecundity diminished. 



The particular purposes for which each race or species may be intended is one of 

 the points to which the Economist pays special attention. A general distinction, de- 

 pending on their different adaptations and the variety of their products, is made among 

 all animals intended to be improved artificially. Some, for example, such as the 

 Horse, the Ass, and sometimes the Mules proceeding from them, are chiefly used in 

 Europe for carriage, draught, or speed, while their economical products during life, 

 •r afterwards, amount tn a small matter, being merely the hide, hoofs, tendons, 

 and the oil abstracted from the marrow of their bones. The Ox and Buffalo 

 again are specially used for draught or the table, while their females chiefly yield milk 

 *ud its modifications. The Sheep and Goats present us with the three-fold tribute 

 of their fleece, milk, and flesh; and different uses are made of the horns with which 



some of the animals are armed, as well as of their skin. The Hog yields little else 

 besides his flesh and bristles, and sometimes his skin. The Rabbit only imparts its 

 flesh and fur ; and we esteem the Dog and Cat rather for intellectual than physical 

 qualities. 



From the variety of these products, and the different kinds of service which th?/ 

 render, a particular attention is commonly paid to such points as contribute mortj 

 especially towards the several advantageous results. Thus, their size, weight, vo- 

 lume, tendency to grow fat, smallness of the bones compared with the other parts of 

 the body, the abundance and fineness of their flesh, ar^ qualities which are partiiu 

 larly esteemed in species or races intended to be fattened. The relative vohime of 

 the most useful parts compared with those of less value is another point of importance. 

 Intestines of small size are in this case to be desired, as well as small bones, with a 

 fine and supple skin. An abundant cellular tissue, when the accumulation of fat is 

 an object, becomes an essential point; and a broad back with the dorsal and lumbar 

 muscles strongly developed is no uncertain promise of a large quantity of delicate 

 beef-steak. Another and a very different set of qualities are esteemed in animals 

 intended for draught. The size, weight, and massiveness of the body, the breadth of 

 their base, the thickness of the loins, and the force of the bony skeleton, are essential 

 characters in all animals for draught and burthen; while an ordinary Saddle-Horse 

 should be rather active than heavy. Animals specially intended for laborious occu- 

 pations should have a broad chest, the fore quarters elevated, and the hind quarters 

 . neatly made, large, well sloped off and proportioned. For ordinary draught or light 

 work the characters should be less strongly marked, and the general form disposed 

 for agility. The Race- Horse requires much suppleness in all his limbs; and the form 

 best adapted for this purpose consists of a low front, a broad chest, a body rather 

 elongated than shortened, with a great deal of freedom in all his limbs. 



In the Ox and Buffalo, muscular force and largeness of the extremities are es- 

 teemed, together with suppleness of the skin, and all the qualities for fattening al- 

 ready enumerated. 



With the Cow and female Buffalo, as well as in Ewes and she- Goats, the first ob- 

 jects to be considered arc the development of the udders, the size of the lacteal ves- 

 sels and mammary veins, as well as the fineness and suppleness of skin. 



In the Sheep, a long and abundant fleece, free from all blemish, united to a suit- 

 able height and form, and a great aptitude to fatten quickly, are the most desirable 

 qualities. ^ 



The Goat is esteemed for a long, fine, and silky hair, when united to lightness, 

 agihty, docihty, and other quahties already enumerated, especially in reference to 

 its milk, which is often used. 



In the Hog, we esteem an excessive voracity, supple and abundant bristles, with a 

 disposition rather tranquil than wild, and especially a disposition to grow fat quickly. 



An abundant and fine fur, large size, powers of reproduction well pronounced, and 

 a tendency to fatten, are valuable qualities with the Rabbit. 



In all domestic animals, their liveliness and vigour, with the complete development 

 of all their organs, are the surest guarantees for their strength, energy, and courage, 

 and these qualities ought always to fix the attention of the rural Economist. 



The head of young animals, as well as their organs of nutrition and digestion, are 

 usually more voluminous in proportion than the other parts of the body, because tin' 

 growth of the individual is at this age the principal object of Nature. Their bonen 

 are rather cartilaginous than solid. Their skin, whose absorbing power is strongex" 

 than at a more advanced age, is a loose and thin tissue. Their blood is not deeply 

 coloured ; their fat is white and spongy, with little consistency or flavour, and is 

 most prevalent towards the exterior. Their muscles are softer, and more watery 

 than in mature age, and their flesh is consequently more tender ; but, at the same 

 time, more insipid, as well as less nutritious and juicy than in the adult. 



With old animals, on the other hand, the solids of the system predominate, and 

 the nutritious parts are lost faster than they are repaired. Not only are the bones 

 verv hard, but the cartilages are often ossified ; the skin is coriaceous, and adheres 

 forcibly to the subjacent parts; the colour of the flesh is deep; the fat often of a 

 bright yellow, thick, viscous, and more prevalent at the centre than at the circum- 

 ference ; the muscles are shortened and dried up ; the flesh is consequently but Uttle 

 nutritious, and difficult of digestion. 



It follows from these observations, that the most nutritious, savoury, and sub- 

 stantial meat, without being hard or indigestible, is procured from animals at tl e 

 medium age, between the two extremities of life. 



[We have now considered the Mammalia under most of those general points of view which appear necessary to render the consideration ot 

 Species intelligible to the general reader, as well as to impart a sufficient degree of interest to their details. The Geographical distribution of the 

 Mammalia over the surface of the globe, the consideration of the remains of animals now found only in the Fossil state, as well as the causes which 

 have led to their extinction — all subjects of great and general interest, require to be postponed, until we have gone over the numerous species of 

 this Class; for, without a previous knowledge of species and their differences, the importance of these branches of the science cannot be fuUy 

 appreciated. We also think it advisable fully to develop the system of arrangement adopted in the " Regne- Animal," with the additions and im- 

 provements suggested since the publication of the last Edition of that work, before entering upon the History of this branch of the Science, 

 being fully convinced that an intimate acquaintance with some one system, at least, is absolutely necessary for the proper understanding of the 

 several systems which have been proposed from time to time for the arrangement of the objects comprised in this Class of the Animal World. Pre- 

 vious to the consideration of Genera and Species, it will, however, be proper to define some of the most important terms used in describing them.] 



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