THE MAMMALIA—MAN AND BEASTS. 
101 
■wVlicK is a vdry different circumstance of their condition. Iti their native haunts, 
they always endeavour to withdraw themselves from excesses of every kind, whe- 
ther of heat or cold, moisture or dryness, as well as from storms, tempests, violent 
winds, or the attacks of their enemies, while they are free to change, whenever they 
please, either their place or position. It therefore becomes a serious error, through 
inattention to these circumstances, to expose domestic animals to the inclemencies 
of the weather, without the slightest shelter, for the mere purpose of avoiding the 
common disjidvantagcs of a stable. We have often seen flocks of Sheep shut up in 
narrow parks, exposed in winter to the frost, in summer to the burning heat of the sun, 
in spring and autumn to excessive moisture, and in all seasons to the sudden changes of 
the atmosphere, and consequently to the most sudden alternations of temperatm*e. 
The natural consequences of this mismanagement have invariably followetl, while their 
undue mortality and impoverished condition fully demonstrated, that animals exposed 
to all kinds of weather are far from being in that state of nature to which it was 
intended to reduce them. Their amelioration, their prosperity, and even their 
existence, are compromised as much by this injudicious treatment, as they would 
have been by the most confined, uncleanly, and ill-constructed stable. 
It is no doubt true, that we should endeavour to bring animals to a real state of 
nature, and place the enjoyments of liberty and fresh air as much as possible within 
their reach. Yet this can only be done effectually by giving them the power, 
whenever circumstances permit of going alternately, under cover or in tho field, 
by having some enclosed space where they may be free to move, and with a sufficient 
number of retreats or sheltered spots, to which they can resort at those times when 
there is more real inconvenience and disadvantage in being without than within. This 
is the only legitimate way in which wc can approximate the domestic animals to their 
natural condition. 
To dress their coats occasionally, and clear tho entire surface of their bodies from all 
impurities, by the aid of suitable instruments, are attentions imperatively required by 
the state of domestication, and are apparently indispensable to tho health of the most 
useful animals which have submitted to the empire of Man. As tho skin of these ani- 
mals is perforated by an infinite number of pores, or orifices of the smaller arteries ad- 
joining the epidermis, there exhales contimully during the healthy state of the animals 
an cxeremontitial vapour, which has been considered in Man to surpass in quantity all 
the other evacuations taken together. This important function, known by the name of 
insetisihle traHspiratio7i, is indi.spensahle to the well-being of all the domestic animals, 
and it cannot be arrested, or even suspended or modified, without being attended with 
injury to the system. When this function is performed regularly and suitably, it 
clears tho skin, maintains it in the supple state fitted for the play of all the organs, 
and smooths as well as nourishes the hair, which then looks sleek and glossy. When, 
however, by any cause, this passage for the su))erfluous humours has been intercepted, 
they cither flow back towards the centre, or become fixed in the exterior. In either 
case the vital functions arc disturbed, and a great number of dangerous maladies are 
the consequence. 
These accidental derangements of their natural order may be observed among all 
animals, hut they are more frequent and acquire greater intensity with the domestic 
quadrupeds, especially such as labour severely or are in course of fattening, from their 
being more exposed to the causes whence they arise. Being often obliged to remain 
stationary for a considerable length of time, and most frequently in narrow and con- 
fined places, exposed to a continual and abundant dust, with the exhalations arising 
firom their food or other matters, various ftireign substances fix themselves upon the 
*kin, and if daily care be not taken to remove all those obstructions to the insensible 
transpiration, their general healtlr becomes seriously affected, and thus the improvc- 
^nent of the breed may be retarded or their fecundity diminished. 
The particular purposes for which each race or species may be intended is one of 
tbe points to which the Economist pays special attention. A genera! distinction, de- 
pending on their different adaptations and the variety of their products, is made among 
^^1 animals intended to be improved artificially. Some, for’ example, such as the 
Horse, the Ass, and sometimes tho Mules proceeding from them, are chiefly used in 
Europe for carriage, draught, or speed, while their economical products during life, 
afterwards, amount to a small matter, being merely the hide, hoofs, tendons, 
^ud the oil abstracted from tho marrow of their bones. The Ox and Buffalo 
^ain are specially used for draught or the table, while their females chiefly yield milk 
its modifications. The Slieep and Goats present us with the three-fold tribute 
their fleece, milk, and flesh ; and different uses are made of the horns with which 
some of the animals are armed) as well as of their skin. The Hog yields little else 
besides his flesh and bristles, and sometimes his skin; The Rabbit only imparts its 
flesh and fur ; and we esteem the Dog and Cat rather for iiitelledUiai than physical 
qualities. 
From the variety of these products, and the different kinds of service which they 
render, a particular attention U commonly paid to such points as contribute more 
especially towards the several advantageous results* Thus, their size, weight, vo- 
lume, tend«?ncy to grow fat, .smallness of the bones compared with the other parts of 
tho body, the abundance artd fineness of their flesh, &r ‘ qvialities which are particu 
larly esteemed in species or races intendtd to be fattened. The relative volume of 
the most useful parts compared with those of less value is another point of importance. 
Intestines of small sue are in this case to be desired, as well as small bones, with a 
fine and supple skin. An abundant cellular tissue, when the accumulation of fat is 
an object, becomes an essential point; and a broad back with the dorsal and lumbar 
muscles strongly developed is no uncertain promise of a large quantity of delicate 
beef-steak. Another and a very different set of qualities are esteemed in animals 
intended for draught. The size, weight, and massiveness of the body, the breadth of 
their base, the thickness of the loins, and the force of the bony skeleton, are essential 
characters in all animals for draught and burthen ; while an ordinary Saddle-Horse 
should be rather active than heavy. Animals specially intended fur laborious occu- 
pations should have a broad chest, the fore quarters elevated, and the hind quarters 
neatly made, large, well sloped off and proportioned. For ordinary draught or light 
work the characters should be less strongly marked, and the general form disposed 
for agility. The Race-IIorsc requires much suppleness in all his limbs; and the fofm 
best adapted for this purpose consists of a low front, a broad chest, a body rather 
elongaletl than shortened, with a great deal of freedom in all his limbs. 
In the Ox and Buffalo, muscular force and largeness of the extremities are es- 
teemed, together with suppleness of the skin, and all tho qaalities for fattening al- 
ready enumerated. 
With the Cow and female Buffalo, as well as in Ewes and she-Goals, the first ob- 
jects to be considered are the development of the udders, the size of the lacteal ves-" 
sets and mammary veins, as well as the fineness and suppleness of skin. 
In the Sheep, a long and abundant fleece, free from all blemish, united tO' a suit- 
able height and form, and a great aptitude to fatten quickly, are the most desu-able 
qualities. , 
The Goat is esteemed for a long, fine, and silky hair, when united to lightness, 
agility, docility, and other qualities already enumerated, especially in reference to 
its milk, which is often used. 
In the Hog, we esteem an excessive voracity, supple and abundant bristles, with a 
disposition rather tr.anquil than wild, and especially a disposition to grow fat quickly. 
An abundant and fine fur, large size, powers of reproduction well pronounced, and 
a tendency to fatten, are valuable qualities with the Rabbit. 
In all domestic animals, their liveliness and vigour, with tho complete development 
of all their organs, are the surest guarantees for their strength, energy, and courage^ 
and these qualities ought alwaj’s to fix the attention of the rural Economist. 
The head of young animals, as well as their organs of nutrition and digestion, are 
usually mure voluminous in proportion than the other parts of the body, because the 
growth of the individual is at this age the principal object of Nature. Their bones 
are rather cartilaginous than solid. Their skin, whose absorbing power is stronger 
than at a more advanced ago, is a loose and thin tissue. Their blood is not deeply 
coloured ; their fat is white and spongy, with little consistency or flavour, and is 
most prevalent towards the exterior. Their muscles are softer, and more watery 
than in mature age, and their flesh is consequently more tender ; but, at the same 
time, more insipid, as well as less nutritious and juicy than in the adult. 
With old animals, on the other hand, the solids of the system predominate,, and 
the nutritious parts arc lost faster than they are repaired. Not only arc the hones 
very hard, but the cartilages are often ossified ; the skin is coriaceous, and adheres 
forcibly to the subjacent parts; the colour of the flesh is deep; the fat often of a 
bright yellow, thick, viscous, and more prevalent at the centre than at the circum- 
ference ; the muscles are shortened and dried up ; the flesh is consequently but little 
nutritious, and difficult of digestion 
It follows from these observations, thfit the most nutritious, savoury, and sub- 
stantial meat, without being hard or indigestible, is procured from, animals at the 
nwdium age, between the two extremities of life. 
[We have' now considered! the Mammalia under most of those general points of view which appear necessary to' render the consideration of 
Species intelligible to the general reader, as well as to impart a sufficient degree of interest to their details. The Geographical distribution* of the 
Mammalia over the surface of the globe, the consideration of the remains of animals now found only in the Fossil state, as well as the causes which 
have led to their extinction — all subjects of great and general interest, require to be postponed, until we have gone over the numerous species of 
*his Class; for. without a previous knowledge of species and their differences, the importance of these branches of the science cannot be fully 
appreciated. We also think it advisable fully to develop the system of arrangenieut adopted in the “ Rcgne* Animal,’' with the additions and im- 
provements suggested since the publication of the last Edition of that work, before entering, upon the History of this branch of the Science, 
being ffiHy convinced that an intimate acquaintance with some one system, at least, is absolutely necessary for the proper understanding of the 
Several systems which have been proposed from time to tttnie’ for the arrangement of the objects comprised in this Class of the Animal World. Pre- 
^ous to the consideration of Genera and Species, it will, however, be proper to define some of the most important terms used in describing them.] 
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