TREATISE ON MILCII COWS. 



45 



This could not be effected except by studying a vast number of individuals — by 

 comparing them together — taking into consideration the countries from which 

 they came — their staturje — their yield. This was not all : they had to be classed. 

 Conceive what toil this task involved for me, a plain child of Nature, who had 

 no idea of such a classification, and found myself under the necessity of establish- 

 ing one. The endeavor was one to absorb me entirely ; I gave up my calling ; 

 I traveled about, visiting cattle markets, fairs, cow-stables ; I questioned and 

 cross-questioned all who might be expected to know most on the- subject — hus- 

 bandmen, dealers in cattle, men of the veterinary profession ; I became convinced 

 that my discovery had not been anticipated by any one. The marks for distin- 

 guishing a good Cow from a bad one varied according to the notions of each indi- 

 vidual. Some looked to the shape of the horns — others upon that of the udder ; 

 some judged by the shape of the animal, or the color of her hair — others were 

 determined in their choice by something else. But, in these various modes of 

 judging, all was vague and uncertain. I became confirmed in the belief that I 

 had made the important discovery of signs that were positive and certain ; and, 

 in order the better to satisfy myself of th&«olidity of the ground upon which my 

 method was to rest, I took the precaution to return to the same localities at dif- 

 ferent times and seasons, that I might trace and ascertain the effects which might 

 attend these variations of Nature. All my observations were accurately noted 

 down ; and I could at length flatter myself with having acquired a mass of facts 

 which gave solidity and consistence to my system, and imparted the character of 

 positive certainty to that which at first had been but a probable conjecture. 



In 1822, 1 began to deal in cattle on my own account. This trade brought un- 

 der my eyes a great number and variety of Cows from all quarters — from Switz- 

 erland, Holland, Brittany, Poitou, &c. &c. ; and I had better opportunities than 

 before for thoroughly examining the marks of these different races. My obser- 

 vations were multiplied, and 1 became convinced anew that all individuals pos- 

 sessing the same marks belonged to the same family, whatever might be the 

 country of their birth ; that these marks were an infallible indication of the, same 

 degree of superiority or inferiority; in a word, that Nature, always consistent ' 

 with herself, acted, at all times and places, in the same way, and was always ' 

 governed by the same laws. | 



For between seven and eight years, I had been incessantly engaged in estab- ' 

 lishing order among my observations, and arranging the results into one consist- i 

 ent whole. I established a classification, founded upon the shape or outline oi 

 the different marks : Cows were first divided into classes or families ; then, in 

 each of these classes, there was a threefold division, according to size — the tall 

 (X high, the medium, and the low ; finally, each class was subdivided into orders, , 

 according to the diminution and the deformity of the distinctive mark of the class, ' 

 as found in the different individuals belonging to it. This task was an immense i 

 one for me, and cost me a degree of trouble and an expenditure of time, of which ' 

 a conception may be formed by considering how many comparisons and combina- ' 

 tions were necessary to a person so unversed in scientific methods, before my ma- 

 terials could be reduced to order, and I could form a distinct and precise idea of 

 my own discovery. 



These difficulties, which might have disheartened any other person, did not 

 discourage me. A system was to be created, and I created it. In 1828, I ad- 

 dressed to the Academy of Bordeaux a request, having for its object that my 

 method should be examined and reported upon. I was n.ot yet willing to disclose 



