to the Rearing and Feeding of Cattle. 
245 
lantern on the floor of the apartment induces the ortolans to be- 
lieve that the sun is about to rise, and they greedily consume the 
food upon the floor. More food is now scattered over it, and the 
lantern is withdrawn. The ortolans, rather surprised at the 
shortness of the day, think it their duty to fall asleep, as night has 
spread his sable mantle round them. During sleep, little of 
the food being expended in the production of force, most of it 
goes to the formation of muscle and fat.* After they have been 
allowed to repose for one or two hours, in order to complete the 
digestion of the food taken, their keeper again exhibits the lantern 
through the aperture. The rising sun a second time illuminates 
the apartment, and the birds, awaking from their slumber, apply 
themselves voraciously to the food on the floor ; after having 
discussed which, they are again enveloped in darkness. Thus 
the sun is made to shed its rising rays into the chamber four or 
five times every day, and as many nights follow its transitory 
beams. The ortolans thus treated become like little balls of fat 
in a few days. The process speaks much for the ingenuity of its 
inventor, if it does not for the intellect of the ortolan. In this 
refined mode of feeding, every condition for the fattening of an 
animal is united — i. e. warmth, plenty of food, want of exercise. 
It is a question often asked, and one which I shall not pre- 
sume to answer, whether cattle should be fed in stalls or in small 
yards with sheds attached. Certainly the former would appear at 
first sight to be the most preferable, because less motion is per- 
mitted. But it is also possible that, the health of the animal 
being impaired by this treatment, the energy of the vital principle 
may be so far subdued as to prevent a rapid increase of the body ; 
while, the health being better in the latter case, and only a small 
amount of exercise permitted, the increased energy of the vital 
powers may more than compensate for the loss experienced by 
the motion of the animal. The flesh of the cattle in the yards 
must also be firmer and more fitted for the butcher, while the 
cattle tied to stakes will, in all probability, be possessed of more 
tallow. I have already discussed, in my former lecture, the con- 
ditions for producing tallow and flesh in an animal, and have at 
the same time pointed out the different kinds of food best adapted 
for each of these purposes. I do not, therefore, again refer to 
this subject, except to say that the condition of an animal, either 
as to tallow or to flesh, may be made to suit the wishes of its 
feeder, by attention to the chemical composition of its food. 
The manure obtained from animals stall-fed must differ con- 
siderably from that dropped in the field. When exercise is 
* Part is expended in restoring the tissues exhausted by the involuntary 
motions. 
