Tame Animals
GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS,
LONDON AND NEW YORK.
Kronheim & Co., London
[3]THE HARE.
I suppose you have all seen a Hare, and perhaps many of you havehelped to eat one. The Hare is a very timid animal, running away onthe least alarm; but, poor fellow, he is too often caught by the dogsand killed, notwithstanding his swift running. It is rather difficultto tame Hares, but there is a very amusing account of three, namedPuss, Tiney, and Bess, written by the poet Cowper, who kept them forsome time, and one day you shall read about them. The colour of theHare in this country is usually brown, but white Hares are found invery cold countries. The Hare does not burrow like the rabbit, butmakes a kind of nest called its form.
[4]THE GOAT.
The Goat ranks in general usefulness next to the sheep, and as adomestic animal is very valuable. His chief pleasure seems to consistin climbing from [5]one rock to another, for which amusement his hoofsare well adapted. The milk of the Goat is sweet and nourishing, and ismade into cheese by the mountaineers, who also eat his flesh, which israther tough. His skin is made into the materials called moroccoleather, and vellum; and that of the young animals, the kids, is usedto make the best kinds of gloves. The hair of some species of Goats issoft and fine, and is woven into shawls of beautiful texture.
[6]THE COW.
Cows are very useful to mankind, in supplying them with milk fromwhich both butter and cheese are made. Their young ones are calledcalves, and the flesh of calves is veal. A good Cow will give aboutfifteen or more quarts of milk a day, but much depends upon thequality of the pasture she feeds upon. Her age is told by her horns;after she is three years old a ring is formed every year at the rootof the horn, so that by counting the number of circles, her age may beexactly known. Cows are sometimes prettily marked with black, brown,and yellow spots, and, as they lie scattered about a green meadow, addmuch to the charms of a landscape.
[8]THE SHEEP.
The Sheep is found in every quarter of the globe, and is one of themost profitable animals that mankind possesses. His flesh is eaten bythe inhabitants of all nations, and, as you know, is called mutton.The wool of