OF SCOTLAND.

23

PART I.

CATTLjE *.

JT he cattle of Scotland do not admit of being divided intosucb as are kept for the dairy,—for labour,—and for theircarcase. Except in one small district, no cattle are rearedchiefly for their milk; and the few that are worked, are se-lected from among the larger varieties reared for their car-case only,

* Cattle, the boves tauri of Linnseus, are still known in Scotland by the se-veral names of black cattle, neat cattle, and noli; but the term “ cattle” simplyseems to be sufficiently appropriate and distinctive.

The general name of the male is bull. While he gets milk he is called a bull-calf, —during the first winter a stirk or yearling-bull ,—then a two, three, or fouryear old bull. When castrated he is called a slot-calf, then a stot-stirk , and af-terwards a stot of two or three years. At four he has the name of ox or bul-lock.

The general name of the female is cow. "While she gets milk she is called acow-calf or quey-calf— -then a quey-stirk, —afterwards a year-old , two-year-old ,and three-year-old quey. When she brings her first calf she is called a youngcoio, and afterwards simply a cow. In some parts of Scotland , when the femalesare cut or spayed, they take the name of heifers , though that term is often usedin other places for females that are not spayed.

Cattle have no fore-teeth in the upper jaw. They have eight in the underone, but no tusks or canine teeth. Their age may be known by their teeth,and by the horns of such as have any.

They cast no teeth until past two years old, when they get two new ones, andtwo more every following year till they are five years old; but they are not pro-perly full-mouthed till the age of six years, as the two corner teeth are not fullygrowm sooner. The first circle ifpon the horn does not appear till they are threeyears old, after which they get another every year, though not always equallydiscernible in all horned cattle. In Galloway, where the cattle are all polled,fheir age from two to four years may be known, by the length and thickness oftheir tails, by those who are acquainted with such cattle.