VICE IN HORSES AND COWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1584, 30 October 1912, Page 13

VICE IN HORSES AND COWS.

HOW THEY EXHIBIT THEIR FEELINGS. There are groat differences between a oow and a horse iji the mode in which ejich exhibits its feelings. Take vice in the horse, for example. Tho surest evidence of a vicious disposition in him is in the constant readiness of the animal to throw back its oars close to the head. With this action arc the usual accompanying motions of crouching of tho hindquarters and the inclination to lift and throw out the leg behind. In the ox, however, it is this very pressing of the ears close to the head that indicates docility and conient The position unwed is tho natural one. It is only when roused and greatly excited, and when the animal is charging, for instance, that tho ears are thrust forward, accompanying the dilated, staring eyes. The knowledge or lack of these peculiarities of horso and ox has made or marred tho cha.uces of some artists. This calls to mind tho French artist who exhibited in-a Paris salon a picture of a herd of swine feeding at a trough. He was acquiring a great deal of fame for his masterpiece until ono day a countryman, happening to bo attracted by the crowd around tho canvas, approaching, voiced his dissent. Astonished, the bystanders demanded what lie knew about nrt. The countryman may have replied that he knew little enough about art, but he knew something about pigs. "'Whoever," he exclaimed, "saw pigs feeding like these— none of them with one or both feet inside the trough?" Gradually the picture was deserted, and also the artist—of his fame. Rosa Bonheur, the great animal painter of France, produced a picture of some Highland cattle, which was and has been justly admired. At ono of the French expositions of stock a famous Scotch breeder was shown this picture, and was asked- his opinion of the work. After looking at it askance for a inoinont, ho dismissed the subject by sourly remarking: "They're no' th' richt kin'."