260 
An Essay on Fat and Muscle. 
Smallness of bone is another indication of early maturity, since 
it must be evident that a breed of animals that will attain their 
full size of bone at an early age will be a much more profitable 
breed to the grazier than one of slower growth. 
The size of the head of an ox affords another indication of a 
capacity to carry fat in an eminent degree. When the head of a 
bull approaches to the narrow elongated form of the female, he 
will be extiemely docile, but will have lost much of his mascu- 
line character ; his stock will be certain to fatten readily, but will 
not carry much muscle. 
The ears should be thin — coarse ears being a certain sign of a 
coarse breed. 
The horns should be fine — a coarse and thick horn being an 
indication of an ill-bred animal. Wherever there is a tendency 
in a breed to thick and coarse hides, the horns are generally 
found coarse and thick also. The horns, hoofs, hair, and cuticle, 
seem to be intimately connected : they resemble each other in 
their chemical composition, differing only in their degree of hard- 
ness and condensation. Thus, according to Scherer : — 
External 
Skin of the 
Sole of the 
Foot. 
Hairs of 
the Beard. 
Bufl'alo 
Horn. 
Nails. 
Wool. 
Carbon 
51-036 
51-529 
51-162 
51-089 
50-653 
Hydrogen 
6-801 
6-687 
6-597 
6-824 
7-029 
Nitrogen . 
17-225 
17-936 
17-284 
16-901 
17-710 
Oxygen and 1 
Sulphur . ) 
24-938 
23-848 
24-957 
25-186 
24-608 
These products are remotely connected with the vital actions 
of the systems with which they are associated ; and however ihev 
may differ in form, uses, and external appearance, they are all 
produced by the same kind of vascular structure; and though 
variously arranged to suit the particular circumstances in each 
case, yet the mode of their development and growth is essentially 
the same. 
A thin neck is another indication of a delicate breed, either in 
bulls or rams ; a thick neck, on the contrary, indicating large 
muscles and a good constitution. Proportion is another sign or 
token by which to judge of the disposition of an animal to carry 
a fair proportion of muscle. There should always be a propor- 
tionate union of length, depth, and thickness; no matter what the 
