32 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



Although the Oxen of this breed, when fed in the or* 

 dinary way, do not exceed forty ftone the four quarters, 

 — one of them, fed by Mr Spearman, of Rothley Park, 

 in Northumberland, weighed, when killed, in 1790, at 

 the age of fix years, eighty- one ftone. 



The Cow feems more liable to changes from its paf- 

 ture and climate than any other quadruped. In the dif- 

 ferent" parts of this narrow ifland, we can trace a won- 

 derful variety of thefe animals, produced by the richnefs 

 or poverty of the foil. In fhort, in every part of the 

 world, the Cow is found either large or fmall, in propor- 

 tion to the quality and quantity of its food. Among 

 the Eluth Tartars, where the paftures are remarkably 

 rich and nourifhing, the Cow grows to fuch an amazing 

 fize, that a man can fcarcely reach the tip of its moulder: 

 In France, on the contrary, where this animal is {tinted 

 in its food, and driven from the beft paftures, it greatly 

 degenerates. 



In Great-Britain, the Ox is the only horned animal 

 that will apply his ftrength to the fervice of mankind; 

 and, in general, is more profitable than the Horfe, for 

 the plough or the draught. There is fcarcely any part of 

 this animal without its ufe : The fkin is made into va- 

 rious kinds of leather; the hair is mixed with lime for 

 plaiftering ; the bones are made ufe of as a fubftitute for 

 ivory, and, being calcined, are ufed by the refiner as an 

 abforbent to carry off the bafer metals in refining filver, 

 &c. ; combs, and many other articles, are made of the 

 horns ; we are fupplied with candles from the tallow ; 

 and from the feet is procured an oil, of great ufe in pre- 

 paring and foftening leather ; befides the well-known be- 

 nefits derived from butter, milk, and cheefe ; its blood, 



