en or more quarts of milk a day, but much depends upon the
quality 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 root
of the horn, so that by counting the number of circles, her age may be
exactly known. Cows are sometimes prettily marked with black, brown,
and yellow spots, and, as they lie scattered about a green meadow, add
much to the charms of a landscape.

[Illustration]

THE SHEEP.

The Sheep is found in every quarter of the globe, and is one of the
most profitable animals that mankind possesses. His flesh is eaten by
the inhabitants of all nations, and, as you know, is called mutton.
The wool of the Sheep is very valuable, and most of our clothing is
made from it: that produced by the breed called Merino sheep is
particularly fine, and fetches a high price. The skin is also of
service, and forms covers for many of your school-books. Sheep-washing
and shearing are busy times for the farmer, and are very interesting
sights. Young sheep are called lambs--you have often seen the gentle
little things skipping about in the meadows.

[Illustration]

THE DORMOUSE.

In some places people call this little animal "the Sleeper," because
he lies in a torpid state through the long winter and spring, until
the weather becomes quite warm. He builds his nest in an old hollow
tree, or beneath the bushes, and during the summer lays up a great
quantity of nuts or acorns for his winter provender. Dormice rarely
come out, except at night, passing the day in a solitary manner in
their cells, which they manage to make very comfortable by linings of
moss. Dormice are about the size of the common mice, only more bulky,
and of a reddish brown colour.

The American Dormouse is a more beautiful animal, striped down the
back, and much resembling the squirrel in his habits.

[Illustration]

THE ASS.

Is the most patient of all quadrupeds, and, although thought by many
to be the most stubborn, he is not really so, but is both active and
willing if well treated. Donkeys are generally badly used by their
masters, and you cannot go far without seeing one with his skin
bruised by hard blows. Poor beasts! I hope you pity them when you see
them looking half-starved, with no flesh on their aching bones,
dragging with slow and weary steps some heavy load of sand or wood.
The milk of Asses is greatly esteemed for the use of invalids: in