DOMESTIC CATTLE. 



In the beautiful Swiss Alps, in the 

 early springtime, one hears the ringing 

 of a large bell. This is rung in the vil- 

 lages and is the signal for the departure 

 of the herds to the alps above. The 

 cows, lowing and jumping with delight, 

 collect eager for departure. The finest 

 cow of all has the largest bell hung from 

 her neck with a bright ribbon, and be- 

 tween her horns is placed a large nose- 

 gay of flowers. 



She is the leader and has the place of 

 honor, and to deprive her of this pleasure 

 would be cruelty indeed. The herdsmen 

 begin their songs, the yodling sounds 

 through the valley, the milk stools are 

 set between the horns of the cattle, the 

 cheese kettles and provisions are packed 

 upon the beasts of burden, and the proces- 

 sion gaily wends its way up the moun- 

 tainside. 



Even if poorly protected from storms 

 which may be encountered above, we can- 

 not wonder that the cattle thoroughly en- 

 joy this calm, beautiful life in the alps, 

 and we are told that cows left in the val- 

 ley below will often escape and follow 

 their companions to the distant moun- 

 tains. 



In the United States there are also cat- 

 tle that live an outdoor life, which have 

 the freedom of the range, and are shelter- 

 less the year around. These are the half- 

 wild herds which roam over Texas, Colo- 

 rado and other western states. Although 

 the great cattle owners often inclose im- 

 mense pastures, thousands of acres in ex- 

 tent, so that the herds are in a measure 

 restricted, the smaller owners turn their 

 cattle out and allow them to wander at 

 will. 



This occasions the necessity for the 

 yearly ''round-up." At a given time the 

 cattle of each county are driven to a com- 

 mon center, confined within an inclosure 

 or "corral," and the calves running with 

 the cow mother are branded with the 



mark of the owners. The "round-up" is 

 the great event of the cowboy's life, and 

 an interesting occasion it certainly is. 

 The time of the "round-up" may consume 

 a number of days. The cowboys take 

 their places on the outer limit of the tract 

 belonging to their division, and with 

 a skill acquired by long experience they 

 are able to find every cow and calf and 

 slowly to draw the circle smaller and 

 smaller, until all the cattle are congre- 

 gated in one herd. Then follows a time 

 of work by day and merrymaking by 

 night. The camp is maintained until all 

 the cattle are branded with the brands 

 which are registered with the county 

 clerk, thus making the ownership plam to 

 all. The cowboys, with their broad hats 

 frequently ornamented with the various 

 brands of the cattle owners, with their 

 picturesque attire, mounted on their 

 bronchos, or scraggy, wiry mountain po- 

 nies, are interesting individually and col- 

 lectively. Among them at the time of the 

 "round-up" are often men of education 

 and refinement, as well as others who 

 know no life besides that of the plains 

 and the open. They ride like the wind, 

 and when one rode to his ranch neighbor's 

 thirteen miles away to execute a little 

 commission before breakfast and returned 

 before the coffee was spoiled, my eastern 

 ideas received a shock which made it nec- 

 essary for me to readjust my conception 

 of western life and living. 



Mr. Brehm tells us that the manner of 

 life of the domestic cattle of various 

 countries is instructive as well as fasci- 

 nating. He tells us that there are "herds 

 which lead the same manner of existence 

 as did those belonging to the patriarchs. 

 The wandering tribes of Eastern Soudan 

 are herdsmen, who attend to their duties 

 in exactly the same way as their ancestors 

 did thousands of years ago. Herds of 

 cattle constitute their only riches. Their 

 wealth is estimated by the number of their 



