hind quarters are also rather loosely
put together, leaving the rump of great width and the pelvis large, and
the organs and milk-vessels lodged in the cavities largely developed.
The skin over the rump should be loose and flexible. This point is of
great importance; and as, when the cow is in low condition or very poor,
it will appear somewhat harder and closer than it otherwise would, some
practice and close observation are required to judge well of this mark.
The skin, indeed, all over the body, should be soft and mellow to the
touch, with soft and glossy hair. The tail, if thick at the setting on,
should taper and be fine below.

But the udder is of special importance. It should be large in
proportion to the size of the animal, and the skin thin, with soft,
loose folds extending well back, capable of great distension when
filled, but shrinking to a small compass when entirely empty. It must be
free from lumps in every part, and provided with four teats set well
apart, and of medium size. Nor is it less important to observe the
milk-veins carefully. The principal ones under the belly should be large
and prominent, and extend forward to the navel, losing themselves,
apparently, in the very best milkers, in a large cavity in the flesh,
into which the end of the finger can be inserted; but when the cow is
not in full milk, the milk-vein, at other times very prominent, is not
so distinctly traced; and hence, to judge of its size when the cow is
dry, or nearly so, this vein may be pressed near its end, or at its
entrance into the body, when it will immediately fill up to its full
size. This vein does not convey the milk to the udder, as some suppose,
but is the channel by which the blood returns; and its contents consist
of the refuse of the secretion, or of what has not been taken up in
forming milk. There are also veins in the udder, and the perineum, or
the space above the udder, and between that and the buttocks, which it
is of special importance to observe. These veins should be largely
developed, and irregular or knotted, especially those of the udder. They
are largest in great milkers.

The knotted veins of the perineum, extending from above downwards in a
winding line, are not readily seen in young heifers, and are very
difficult to find in poor cows, or those of only a medium quality. They
are easily found in very good milkers, and if not at first apparent,
they are made so by pressing upon them at the base of