taken."

In many respects the good points in a Shorthorn cow resemble those in
the male of that breed, but in others there is considerable difference.
As I have described in prose the excellencies which a bull should
possess, I will now give a poetical summary of the good points of a cow
of that breed, extracted from the _Journal of Agriculture_, and composed
evidently by an excellent breeder and poet, Mr. Carr:--

The following features constitute, I trow,
The beau ideal of a short-horn cow:--
Frame massive, round, deep-barrell'd, and straight-back'd;
Hind quarters level, lengthy, and well pack'd;
Thighs wide, flesh'd inwards, plumb almost to hock;
Twist deep, conjoining thighs in one square block;
Loin broad and flat, thick flesh'd, and free from dip;
Back ribs "well home," arch'd even with the hip;
Hips flush with back, soft-cushion'd, not too wide;
Flanks full and deep, well forward on the side;
Fore ribs well-flesh'd, and rounded like a drum;
Fore flanks that even with the elbow come;
Crop "barrell'd" flush with shoulders and with side;
Girth large and round--not deep alone, but wide;
Shoulders sloped back, thick cover'd wide at chine;
Points snug, well-flesh'd, to dew-lap tapering fine;
Neck vein fill'd up to well-clothed shoulder-point;
Arm full above, turn'd in at elbow-joint;
Legs short and straight, fine boned 'neath hock and knee;
Belly cylindrical, from drooping free;
Chest wide between the legs, with downward sweep;
Brisket round, massive, prominent, and deep;
Neck fine at head, fast thickening towards its base;
Head small, scope wide, fine muzzle and dish'd face;
Eyes prominent and bright, yet soft and mild;
Horns waxy, clear, of medium size, unfiled;
Tail fine, neat hung, rectangular with back;
Hide soft, substantial, yielding, but not slack;
Hair furry, fine, thick set, of colour smart;
Udder well forward, with teats wide apart.
These points proportion'd well delight the eye
Of grazier, dairyman, and passer-by;
And these to more fastidious minds convey
Appearance stylish, feminine, and gay.

_Breeds of the Ox._--The Shorthorned cattle are now generally regarded
as the most valuable breed in these countries. They are the descendants
of a short-horned breed of cattle which existed for centuries in the
north-east of England. They were not held in much estimation, their
flesh being coarse; but the cows of this breed yielded abun