297 
ox, 
are bred in some parts of England, earrte origin- 
ally from Poland. We were once famous for a 
wild breed of these animals, but these have long 
since been worn out ; and perhaps no kingdom in 
Europe can furnish so few wild animals of all 
kinds as our own. Cultivation and agriculture 
are sure to hanisli these, wherever they are found * 
and every addition a country receives from art, 
drives away those' animals that are only fitted for 
a state of nature. 
There is scarcely any part of the ox but is of 
some use to mankind. Boxes, combs, knife-han- 
dles, and drinking-vessels are made of the horns. 
The horns, when softened with boiling water, be** 
come so pliable as to be formed into transparent 
plates for lanterns ; an invention ascribed to king 
Alfred, who is said to have first used them to prer- 
serve his candle-time measurers from the wind. 
The dung of these animals is useful as manure. 
Glue is made of the cartilages, gristles, and the 
finer pieces of cuttings and parings of the hides, 
boiled in water, till they become gelatinous, and 
the parts sufficiently dissolved, and then dried. 
The bone is a cheap substitute, in many instances, 
for ivory. The thinnest of the calves’ skins are 
manufactured into vellum. The blood is used as 
the basis of Prussian blue. Sadlers, and others, 
use a fine sort of thread, prepared from the sinews, 
which is much stronger than any other equally 
fine. The hair is valuable in various manufac- 
tures ; and the suet, fat, and tallow, for can- 
dles. The utility of the milk and cream is well 
known. 
From the circumstance of these animals fur- 
nishing the Gentoos with milk, butter, and cheese, 
their favourite food, they bear for them a super- 
stitious veneration, founded thus principally in 
gratitude. There is scarcely a Geatoo to be fouad 
yql 0 ii. q q | 
