Polynesian., 1844-11-16
S f. l. E c. II T. D.
The BOb.Tailed Cow.

A correspondent of the Eastern Argus, gives the
following amusing description of the character of a
knowing cow, that seemed to be possessed of think
ing, or reasoning powers in a remarkable degrec:-
"The bob-tailed COW, of whose sagacity
and understanding it is my object to treat, as
| have said before, was IA notorious coward,
whipped by every thing on the farm, and
sometimes taking fright at her own shadow.
BY reason Of this, her peculiarly, she was,
"a a matter Of course, the last to be driven
into the stalls, and the last to be tied up
Consequently, on one side of her, there was
no other creature, so that she was emphati-
caily, lord of all on that side. Now, when
ever the hay was put into the crib to the cat
tie there tied up, it was truly diverting to
see this old cows seifshness. Though ex-
tremely afraid of her next neighbor, she
would watch her opportunity. and whenever
her neighbours head happened to be turned
the other way, the old bob-tail would make
a pass, and stretching her neck to a prodig-
iOus length, she would, with her nose and
horn, scrape every whit of the hay from be-
fore the creature next to her, and bring it to
the other side; when, as / have said before,
she was sole monarch of the field. This
done, alter fetching a long Groan, in token
of triumph, she would cat up the hay
to the starvation of the other. No mat
ter how great was the creature beside her,
she would rob 1t in its own face and eyes.
because, as ] suppose, she knew the other
creature was tied up.
81 remarked in my other communication
that she never stirred till the milk pail was
full. This, as a general thing, was true;
but she, like every thing else, had her rules
and exceptions. Her rule was to fill the
pail, her exception, to hold up her milk
whenever she thought she had been misused.
For when she was driven into the larm-yard
at night, Just so sure as you gave one of the
other creatures any salt, and did not give
her some, she would pay you by holding up
her milk. Not only this, she would show
signs of her angcrtoo visible to be mistaken;
she would shake her head, she would snort,
and manifest her anger in various WAYS, she
would stand in some corner of the yard, ut
tcring a low, muttering sound; and though
she never kicked when /aiyIy used, on this
occasion you would be fortunate, in attempt
ing to milk her, if she did not kick both
herself and the pail over, half Il dozen times
at a solitary milking, Truly, this old bob
tailed coward, in these moods, was a fierce
object to look at. Seeing her in one of these
onrsfs-up, a stranger would naturally sup
pose she would whip the whole yard, but let
agood sized y~earling make at her, and she
would make her way through a crack be-
tween the Stats Of the gate, taking on, ana
believing as if the old nick was after her.
Another peculiarly in the old COW was,
mat her horns and nose were Il key to any
Darn door, fastened in the ordinary way.
You might open the great door, for instance,
while she was IN the yard, and she would
immediately take a stand where she could
look IN, where she could survey the ground,
and make a calculation for an incursion.--
Make calculation, ! say, for what else was
she about : She would watch you rs mar