cow 
cow 
moft extenfively propagated; it's nature appears 
equally capable of the extremes of heat and cold ; 
it inhabits the frozen fields of Iceland, as well as 
the burning defarts of Lybia; it feems to be an an- 
cient denizen of every climate; and is found do- 
meftic and tame in fuch countries as have been ci- 
vilized, but favage and wild in thofe regions which 
are lels populous and refined. In a ftate of na- 
ture, it is capable of defending itfclf againft the 
moft powerful enemy of the foreft ; and is fubordi- 
nate to man alone, whofe power it has experienced, 
and of whofe aid it feems eventually to ftand in need. 
In a domeftic ftate, it is mild and tradable ; and, 
though incapable of fhewing any great degree of 
attachment to it's feeders, is neverthelefs fenfible of 
their careffes, and grateful for their kindnefs. 
However wild calves which are taken from their 
dams may appear in a favage ftate, either in Afri- 
ca or Afia, they foon become patient, humble, and 
familiar; and, while other animals preferve their 
natural propenfities with inflexible perfeverance, 
thefe in all refpefts accord with the defires and con- 
veniences of mankind. 
Cows ufually receive the males from the begin- 
ning of April till the end of July, and go nine 
months with young: but the feafon of copulation 
may be altered by human induftry ; for, by a par- 
ticular method of management, veal is procured 
at every feafon of the year. 
In this country, the ox is the only horned ani- 
mal which applies it's ftrength to the fervice of 
mankind: and it is certain that, in many cafes, 
oxen are preferable in the draught to horfes ; their 
food and harnefs are cheaper; their frame is lefs 
delicate and obnoxious to difeafe or injury; and, 
when age puts an end to their labour, their fiefn is 
ftill equally valuable, an old working ox being as 
good food, and fattening as well, as a young one. 
Every part of this animal may be applied to 
fome benefiicial purpofe; and each has it's parti- 
cular ufes in commerce, manufaftures, and medi- 
cine. Boots, fhoes, and many other conveniencies 
of life, are produced from it's hide. Vellum is 
made of calves-fkins; and gold-beater's fl<:in is 
formed either of a thin vellum, or the finer parts 
of the guts of the ox. The hair, mixed with lime, 
is a very neceffary article in building. Of the 
horns, combs, handles of knives, boxes, buttons, 
drinking-velTcls, and many other ufeful articles, 
are made. In medicine, the horns are alfo ufed 
as alexipharmics or antidotes againft poifon, the 
plague, or the fmall pox ; and they are faid to pof- 
fefs the fame virtues as the oriental bezoar. Car- 
penters glue is made of the chips ot the hoofs and 
the parings of the raw hides. The bones are ufed 
by mechanics as a fubftitute for ivory, by which 
means they are enabled to fell many neat conve- 
niencies at a cheap rate. From the feet is pro- 
cured an oil which anfwers many ufeful purpofes; 
and the bones, when calcined, afford a fit fubftance 
for tefts, for the ufe of the refiner in the fmelting- 
trade. The blood is faid to be an excellent ma- 
nure for fruit-trees, and forms the bafis of that co- 
lour to which we give the name of PrufTian blue. 
Our artificial light is in a great meafure derived 
from the fat and fuet of this animial ; the gall, li - 
ver, fpleen, and urine, have their refpedive ufes 
in the materia medica; and the importance of but- 
ter, cheefe, and milk, are too obvious to need in- 
fifting on. 
The flefti of the ox is extremely nutritious, and 
yields a very ftrong aliment ; and thofe who live 
chiefly on this food are in general ftrong, vigo- 
rous, and healthy: but it ftiould be tender and well 
fed, otherwife it proves hard of digeftion; how- 
ever, it is probably at ail times better adapted to 
the laborious and the a<flive, than the fedentaiy 
and the indolent. Bull- beef contains a great deal 
of volatile fait and oil; but being generally hard, 
tough, and dry, it is therefore feldom ufed. It is 
faid, indeed, that when a bull is firft baited, and 
then killed, the flefti becomes more proper foodj 
but this pra£lice is in itfelf fo inhuman and bar- 
barous, that it were devoutly to be wiflied that it 
was either totally exploded, or at leaft, from a vo- 
luntary refinement of manners, univerfally relin- 
quiftied. 
The flefti of the Cow is inferior to that of the 
OX; but if flie has been well fed, and is young, the 
difference is not very eafily perceived. Veal is 
nourifliing, well tafted, andeafy of digeftion; for 
which reafon it is very proper for delicate conftitu- 
tions, and thofe who have not opportunities for re- 
gular exercife. The fatteners of veal for the Lon- 
don markets fuffer the calves to lick falts, chalk, 
and fuch other fubftances, in order to communi- 
cate a fuperior whitenefs to their flefh : but what 
it thereby gains in colour, it certainly lofcs in fla- 
vour; and, though more tempting to the eye, it is 
unqueftionably lefs grateful to the palate, as well 
as lefs wholefome and nutritive. 
The following varieties of the Cow kind, pro- 
perly fo called, are the moft remarkable. 
Cov/, Wild. This animal proves to be the 
urus, t!:e bonafus, and the bifon, of the ancients. 
It is met with, in fm.all numbers, in the marfliy fo- 
refts of Poland, in the Carpathian Mountains, in 
Lithuania, and near Mount Caucailis in Afia. Some 
authors have mentioned a fpecies of v/ild Cow 
found on the continent of Africa; but ancient and 
ignorant travellers are little to be relied on, it hav- 
ing long fince been difcovered that the wild ox 
of Leo is the fame with the gnou, an animal of a 
very different clafs. Indeed, the torrid zone for- 
bids a fcrutiny into feveral fpecies, which would, 
perhaps, afford much fatisfaftion to an inquifitive 
naturalift. 
Cow, Great Indian. This variety is pf a 
reddifli colour; has ftiort horns bendino- clofe to 
the neck; and a vaft lump on the fhoulders, which 
is extremely fat, and efteemed very delicate and 
rich food: this lump, being merely accidental, 
difappears, in the courfe of a few defcents, in a 
mingled breed. The Great Indian Cow is alfo 
common in Madagaicar, where it grows to an enor- 
mous fize. 
Cow, Small Indian. This animal, which is 
very fmall, has a lump on the fhoulders, and horns 
which proje6l a little forwards. It is the bos In- 
dicus of LinnjBus, and the zebu of Buffon. In 
Surat there is a very minute breed, not larger than 
a dog, whicii neverthelefs has a very fierce look. 
Cow, Abyssinian. In this country, and in 
the ifle of Madagafcar, a curious variety of the 
Cow is met v/ith, which has a hump on the back, 
with horns only attached to the flcin, and entirely 
pendulous. 
Cow, Lant. This animal, as defcribed by 
L^eo Africanus, has fmaller legs and neater horns 
than the common breed; the hair is white; the 
hoofs are of a jetty blacknefs; and of the hide tar- 
gets are made which are impenetrable by a muf- 
quet-ball. This fpecies is fo amazingly fwift, as 
even to outrun the Barbary horfe^ that courfer 
which. 
