280 MAMMALIA. 



these cattle is now employed to make Liebig's " Extract of Meat," 

 from which soup can be obtained at a minute's notice. This new 

 preparation is the dry and concentrated extract made from the 

 liquor which remains after boiling down the beef. Europe, at 

 the present time, consumes no inconsiderable quantity of this 

 extradtim carnis, the invention of a Berlin chemist. 



In spite of the immense slaughter, there appears to be no dimi- 

 nution in the number of Wild Cattle, which wander far and wide 

 in these vast regions of America, because the destruction which 

 takes place is duly compensated for by their annual reproduction. 



Much ink has been used and much paper has been spoiled in 

 the endeavour to solve the question as to the origin of the Ox ; 

 but, even now, we are no further advanced than at the outset of 

 the discussion, and are, after all, compelled to proceed on con- 

 jecture. Is the Domestic Ox a descendant of any one of 

 the wild species of the genus, such as the Buifalo ? This 

 opinion, which, however, was that adopted by Buffon, is now 

 abandoned. Are we to seek in Europe the primitive type of the 

 species, or in Asia, the cradle of civilization ? Or is it not the case 

 that the bovine races of the East and West have each respectively 

 their own special origin ? and would it not border on impudence to 

 assert that the latter are derived from the former, since such an 

 assertion is based on nothing but very vague data, drawn from the 

 fables of antiquity, frequently so erroneous ? 



However we may answer these questions, the most ancient 

 documents of historic ages describe the Ox, the Horse, the Dog, 

 and the Sheep, as associated with Man. The former animal 

 was carried over to America shortly after the discovery of that 

 continent, and is now spread over the entire earth, forming 

 one of the most important elements of its wealth. How, 

 indeed, could any one describe the state to which agriculture 

 would be reduced if suddenly deprived of the Ox ? This humble 

 and patient animal forms the most useful assistant of the small 

 farmer, and also constitutes the main j)erformer of the most 

 important agricultural operations. It helps to till the ground ; it 

 drags immense and heavily laden waggons ; it takes a part in all 

 the laboiu's of the farm ; and, after fifteen or sixteen years of a 

 well-spent life, it yields up for the benefit of Man its flesh, bones, 

 fat, skin, horns, hoofs, and blood — all of them products which 



