OBSERVATIONS ON TFIE AGE OF TIIE OX. 
389 
the whole of Flanders, the old custom is, in regard to the case 
under arbitration, that none but very young bulls should serve cows. 
This custom is founded principally on the early age at which 
they break in bulls for work, in order that they may get them fat 
for the butcher, after having castrated them or not : they also 
break them in at so early an age, that they may not become 
vicious. 
The conditions imposing upon the highest bidder the clause 
obliging him to keep the bull for four consecutive seasons for 
covering, it was not to be supposed that the farmers and breeders 
would depart from such a regulation when such age appeared 
proved by the state of the mouth. And, in fact, vainly were they 
solicited to do so by representations that in England, and many 
parts of France, excellent progeny was got at a much more ad- 
vanced age. 
This obstinate refusal, founded on age, proofs of which, in the 
case before them, rested solely on farmers and veterinarians, gave 
rise to some observations, addressed by the Agricultural Society 
to the Prefect. This magistrate, in his responsible office, trans- 
mits to the Society, through the Sub-prefecture, a letter of M. 
Leon D’Herlincourt, in which he, having himself purchased An- 
TINOUS at the dairy at Pin, declares that the animal is, in truth, 
no more than two years of age ; at the same time that he alleges, 
as an excuse for their making such an error as to think he is four, 
the great precocity of the Durham breed. 
M. D’Herlincourt, in his letter, acknowledges that Antinoiis 
has lost two of his temporary teeth ; but adds, “ if the Durham 
breed nowise differ in this respect from our indigenous breeds, 
Antinoiis ought to have passed his fourth year. The official list 
(which represents Antinoiis as calved at Pin on the 8th of March, 
1814) would be false. I can, in two instances, prove to you the 
precocity of dentition, conformably with what happens in the Dur- 
ham breed, &c. &c.” 
To which letter of inquiry the Director of the Alfort Veterinary 
School gives the following reply : — 
“ Not relying altogether on my own observations (concerning 
the point in dispute), I have solicited information from the director of 
the dairies at Pin, from Poussery (Nievre), and from some of 
our breeders of most repute ; among others, M. Tourret and M. 
Masse ; and I have gleaned as follows : — 
Uniformly, where the ox species has experienced the ordinary 
kind of management and feeding; wherever food, however good, 
has been given as ordinary nutriment, and not for forcing or fat- 
tening ; — in all such parts of the country dentition follows the 
ordinary course, as indicated by writers on the subject; and we 
VOL. XX. 3 F 
