ON THE HORNS OF OXEN. 
527 
imagination theory on safe ground. Mr. Mustard, of Angus, 
had a cow of the polled breed, and perfectly black ; nor had he 
a horned, nor white, nor even spotted cow or bull in his pos- 
session. When this cow was in season, a white, horned ox of 
a neighbour leaped over the fence, and accompanied the cow 
home, till she was put to the bull — a black and white, horned 
calf was the result ; and in this case it would seem that no 
possible union could have taken place. 
But the question arises, if an adjoining neighbour could have 
a herd of white and horned cattle, might not a bull also have 
broken over the same fence either at that or some preceding 
period; for if it ever had taken place, according to the physio- 
logical facts previously detailed, the very effect mentioned here 
would have taken place. 
The whole subject is enveloped in mystery. We know less 
now than was known by Jacob, the shepherd-king; but does it 
not become breeders to experiment and settle these points. If 
the inoculation theory be correct we must have histories as well 
as pedigrees of female animals; and, above all, we must be 
careful in spoiling them by crossing. If the mental influence, 
either affection or imagination, be right, we must remove all 
animals but the best and most perfect specimens from the gaze 
of the mother. 
We must confess, we rather lean towards the inoculation 
theory, but should prefer additional facts before we pronounce 
with certainty. Dr. Harvey, however, has done good service 
so to illustrate this dark and mysterious subject. 
Gardeners and Farmers' Journal. 
ON THE HORNS OF OXEN. 
By Pr. Hinterberger. 
At the suggestion from Liebig, the author examined the 
horns of oxen, and found that both by sulphuric acid and potash, 
they yielded leucin and tyrosin. He first repeated the analysis 
of horn which had been exhausted by alcohol and ether. The 
material consisted of horn-powder, which, after removing the 
surface of the horn by filing and washing, was obtained from 
the deposited parts. The supernatant horn-powder was col- 
lected and dried at 100° cent. After complete incineration this 
horn left behind 1.9 per cent, ashes, which consisted of chloride 
