Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/420

388&#93; 388] BUL homs. A bull, like a stallion, ought to be the most handsome of his species. He should be tall and well made ; his eyes large aud pro- tuberant, black and rolling ; his forehead broad, and close set, with short curled hair; his ears long, hairy within and without; his horns longish, clean, and bright. — And as Nature has designed the head as his principal instrument, both of offence and defence, it ought to have every mark of strength, and also to be propor- tionably aided by the neck. The large muscular neck, provided it be well proportioned in its parts, and the head finely connected therewidi, of all others deserves the preference. — It ought not, how- ever, to be incumbered with a coarse wreathy skin and dewlap ; the latter, on the contrary, ought to be thin and supple ; and the for- mer tight and sm6oth. The breast should be large, and the shoulders deep, thick, broad, and high; the back straight and broad ; the ribs broad and circular ; the belly deep, straight, and tapering a little to the hind thighs, which should be large and square. The roof ought to be wide, particularly over the chine and hooks; and the tail (if the bull is of the true English breed) should not extend far up the roof ; and be strong and deep, with much lank hair upon the under part of it; and the hind part of the buttock rather square than exuberant ; from which mark, there is an absolute, certainty he does not partake of the buffalo, or muscular thighed breed, which are the worst feeders. The joints and legs should be short and strong ; and the body long, deep, and round, filling well up to the shoulder, and into the croin. BUL The finest breed of bulls, and other cattle, ever reared in this country, was that of the late Mr. Fowler, of Rollright, Oxford- shire ; whose stock was sold by auftion, in March, I .vol. The editor of this work was among those who witnessed tins enchant- ing exhibition of animals, and ad- mired their incomparable sue, form, vivacitv, in short, the most pifturesque view, both as to ob- jects and scenery. Here the most respectable farmers of the first agricultural country in Europe had assembled ; some of whom had travelled several hundred miles, from almost every corner of the island. Fifteen prime heads- of cattle, namely, five bulls, and ten cows, were separately sold for the enormous sum of 24641. or, on an average, l64l. each: the finest bull, named Sultan, only two years old, was purchased by Mess. Freeman and Fden, of Glouces- tershire, at the. price of 2201. 10s. — Such was the reputation of that celebrated breeder, Mr. Fowler, that Frederick the Great, of Prussia, honoured him with his correspondence, and rewarded him with a gold medal. By well known artificial means, the nature of this animal is remark- ably softened, and all his impetuo- sity destroyed, without diminishing his strength : on the contrary-, af- ter this operation, which is usually performed before he is two years old, his weight is increased, and he becomes more fit for agricultural purposes. The age of tha6e animals may be distinguished by the teeth and horns ; the first four teeth drop out at the age of six months, and are succeeded by others of a darker colour, which are broader than the former