The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-16
The Intellectual Cow.

From the Spec,ator.I
We believe that each cow has her own
separate characteristics and peculiarlties,
lust as surely as each human being has, and
that the popular idea OF her as being merely
a food machine is both mistaken and unfair.
From what the present writer has noticed
about the cow--yefy limited as that know
ledge is-tbe conclusion is warranted that
she has never yet had full justice done 10
her; that her mental and moral good quail
ties have not been developed, as they
might have been, by cultivation; and
that-thougb less highly gifted with brains
than the dog-she yet possesses enough in.
telligepce TO entitle her to more respect
full consideration than she usually receives.
That COWS acknowledge individuality
among themselves is evident from the fact
that in every herd there is sure to be found
one master-cow, who domineers over all
the rest. Is'not this clear proof that that
particular cow is endowed with an unusual
amount of talent, strength OF character,
gifts OF leadership, decision, or some such
distinguishing quality, which her compan-
ions are capable OF recOgnizingi
The atop boss" in the present writer's
herd is cow named Dulas. She is neither
the biggest nor the strongest nor the long,
est-horned OF the party, and how she has
acquired her supremacy we know not, but
we imagine that it must be through sheer
force OF character and will. We one day
had an opportunity OF watching her lead Der
companions to piece OF mischief, which
they all evidently knew to be against the
laws OF their human superiOrs, and there
fore TO be done on the sly, il possible.
The cows were IN a field adjoining a
rick yard, and 10 the rick-yard was
an clubhouse, wherein some mangels were
stored. The field was separated from
the rick-yard by hedge, in which was
gap stopped by hurdle; and twice in
one day had the cows broken through the
gap. got at their beloved mangeIs, and been
driven out again ANONYMOUSLY. Undaunt-
ed by this, they made third attack, and we
happened to arrive just in time to see it
done. Whilst the men who had driven
them back to the field were still near the
cows all pretended to be grazing as tran
auilly as though no higher ambition than
grass had ever entered their innocent
minds. But no sooner did the coast appear
10 be clear than off set Dulas toward the
hurdle with q quick and resolute step,
shaking her head with most defiant and
jauniy air as she walked. Instantly every
other COW left off eating and followed her,
all evidently perfectly aware Of what she
meant 10 do. Sticking her horns skill
fully under bar OF the hurdle, and heav-
ing up her head to extract the hurdle from
the ground, she soon managed to remove
the obstacle, and then proceeded triumph
autly to the mangels, with all her compan-
ions at her heels. Now, In this case Dulas
seems to have used some kind OF reasoning
power; for there was no attempt made TO
batter down the gate by brute force, and
she had discovered the necessity OF lifting
it upward She has talent for opening
gates with easy fasteniDgs which Is rather
troublesome, putting her horns in and
working her head about until she gets the
fastening undone. And in this, also, she
seems TO show reason or observation. Tor
else how would she know which part OF the
gate TO attack!
We have another COW, named Ethin,
whose situation, when tied up in the cow
house, enabled her to eat out OF the diyis-
ion of the manger appointed TO her right
hand neighbor, though her own division
was out of reach OF any COW except
herself. Again and again have we seen
Ethin, when each cow received her allow.
apce of decorticated cotton-cake, turn at
.
fEithin being the more masterful OF the two
animals), eat that up first, and then polish
oil her own share afterward, her under
sfanding being quite capable Of showing heI
that It must be snow or never" IL she
meant to get a double portion OF the
much-relished cake. We need scarcely OBJ
serve that this piratical proceeding OF
Eithin,s was easily overcome by substl'
tuting more masterful cow as her neigh.
Dor, who would allow no liberties to be
taken. Another proof Of the intelligence
Of cows, OF which many people are not
aware, Is that they soon leal n to know their
own names. aud can be made to answer TO
them readily. This we have often seen ex-
empfiiied when our animals are brought
into their house for the night. Each COW
well knows which stall belongs to her, and
will generally 60 strasgh. to it by her.
self; but sometimes 1t happens that
one OF them has fancy to try
change, and will endeavor to take posses
sion OF some other stall-which attempt is
sure 10 result IN more or less scrimmaging,
horning, and connection. On these occa-
sions it Is generally sufficient for the COW.
man, who Is. perhaps, tying up another
COW at tue far end OF the cow-house, to
shout authoritatively "Ha, Coch - Tor
whatever the name OF the offender may be-
f" what are you about theres" and the
offender Is ut once reduced to order and
obediently seeks her proper place-proying
| chat she perfectly well knows she Is doing
wrong, and that she understands that the
reprooi is addressed only to her.
That The COW is much influenced by ahec.
ton for human beings Is certain. Every
one who has ever had much to do with bel
knows that she will give her milk most
freely when MIXED by person whom she
likes, whereas she win not give 1t as well,
or even will withhold II altogether, II the
mixer Is stranger, or any one 70 whom
she has an aversion; consequently II Is most
| important that all her attendants should bt
Invariably kind, gentle, and patient with
her. In our childhood there was in the herd
beautiful little Alderney with whom w
were on Intimate and afeciionate terms
| sud who, after cslving, firmly declined 4
be MIXED. The dairymaid being 10 did