2. THE COW.

OX is the general name for horned cattle; and of all these the cow is the most useful. The flesh of an ox is beef. Oxen are often used to draw in ploughs or carts. Their flesh supplies us with food. Their blood is used as manure, as well as the dung; their fat is made into candles; their hides, into shoes and boots; their hair is mixed with lime to make mortar; their horns are made into curious things, as combs, boxes, handles for knives, drinking cups, and instead of glass for lanterns. Their bones are used to make little spoons, knives and forks for children, buttons, &c.

Cows give us milk, which is excellent diet; and of milk we make cheese; of the cream we make butter. The young animal is a calf: its flesh is veal; vellum and covers of books are made of the skin. The cow may be con-sid-ered as more u-ni-ver-sal-ly conducive to the comforts of mankind, than any other animal.

THE hog has a divided hoof, like the animals called cattle; but the bones of his feet are really like those of a beast of prey, and a wild hog is a very savage animal. Swine have always been esteemed very un-tract-a-ble, stupid, and in-ca-pa-ble of in-struc-ti-on; but it appears, by the example of the learned pig, that even they may be taught.

A hog is a disgusting animal; he is filthy, greedy, stubborn, and dis-a-gree-a-ble. The flesh of the hog produces pork, ham, and bacon. Hogs are vo-ra-ci-ous; yet where they find plentiful and de-li-ci-ous food, they are very nice in their choice, will refuse unsound fruit, and wait the fall of fresh; but hunger will force them to eat rotten putrid substances. A hog has a strong neck, small eyes, a long snout, a rough and hard nose, and a quick sense of smelling.

DEER shed their horns an-nu-al-ly in the spring: if the old ones do not fall off, the animal rubs them gently against the branch of a tree. The new horns are tender; and the deer walk with their heads low, lest they should hit them against the branches: when they are fullgrown and hard, the deer rub them against the trees, to clear them of a skin with which they are covered.

Th skins of deer are of use for leather, and the horns make good handles for common knives. Spirit of hartshorn is extracted, and hartshorn shavings are made from them.

Rein-deer, in Lapland and Greenland, draw the natives in sledges over the snow with prodi-gi-ous swiftness.

5. THE CAT.

THE cat has sharp claws, which she draws back when you caress her; then her foot is as soft as velvet. Cats have less sense than dogs: their attachment is chiefly to the house; but the dog's is to the persons who inhabit it.

Kittens have their eyes closed several days after their birth. The cat, after suckling her young some time, brings them mice and young birds. Cats hunt by the eye; they lie in wait, and spring upon their prey, which they catch by surprise; then sport with it, and torment the poor animal till they kill it. Cats see best in the gloom. In a strong light, the pupil of the cat's eye is contracted almost to a line; by night it spreads into a large circle.

Cats live in the house, but are not very o-bedi-ent to the owner: they are self-willed and wayward. Cats love perfumes; they are fond of va-le-ri-an and marjoram. They dislike water, cold, and bad smells; they love to bask in the sun, and to lie on soft beds.

D 4

SHEEP supply us with food: their flesh is called mutton. They supply us with clothes; for ther wool is made into cloth, flannel, and stockings. Their skin is leather, which forms parchment, and is used to cover books. Their entrails are made into strings for fiddles; and their dung affords rich, manure for the earth. The female is called an ewe.

A sheep is a timid animal, and runs from a dog; yet an ewe will face a dog when a lamb is by her side: she thinks not then of her own danger, but will stamp with her foot, and push with her head, seeming to have no fear: such is the love of mothers!

Sheep derive their safety from the care of man, and they well repay him for his at-ten-ti-on. In many countries they require the attendance of shepherds, and are penned up at night to protect them from the wolves; but in our happy land, they graze in se-cu-ri-ty.