What cowsay characters does Ubuntu have by default and how can I test them?

I saw somebody using Tux in cowsay earlier and I wonder what other characters there and what they look like in practice. Is there a quick way to look through all the characters Ubuntu has in its cowsay package?

3 Answers

The cowsay package includes a load of "cows" in the /usr/share/cowsay/cows/. You can find more about this (and how to add new cows, change their eyes and tongues, and other fun things) in man cowsay.

You can simply loop these with the following command to view them in action:

for f in /usr/share/cowsay/cows/*; do cowsay -f "${f:23:-4}" "${f:23:-4}"; done

This will output a lot of content so you may wish to pipe that into less.
Here's the current selection:

 _____
< apt > ----- \ (__) (oo) /------\/ / | || * /\---/\ ~~ ~~ ____________
< beavis.zen > ------------ \ __------~~-, \ ,' , / \ / : | ' | | | | | _-- | _| =-. .-. || o|/o/ _. | / ~ \ | (____@) ___~ | |_===~~~.` | _______.--~ | \________ | \ | __/-___-- -__ / _ \ ______
< bong > ------ \ \ ^__^ _______/(oo)
/\/( /(__) | W----|| |~| || || |~| ~~ |~| ~ |_| o |#|/ _+#+_ ___________
< bud-frogs > ----------- \ \ oO)-. .-(Oo /__ _\ /_ __\ \ \( | ()~() | )/ / \__|\ | (-___-) | /|__/ ' '--' ==`-'== '--' ' _______
< bunny > ------- \ \ \ \ /\ ( ) .( o ). ________
< calvin > -------- \ ., \ . .TR d' \ k,l .R.b .t .Je \ .P q. a|.b .f .Z% .b .h .E` # J: 2` . .,.a .E ,L.M' ?:b `| ..J9!`., q,.h.M` `.., ..,""` ..2"` .M, J8` `: ` 3; . Jk ..., `^7"90c. j, ,! .7"'`j,.| .n. ... j, 7' .r` 4: L `... ..,m. J` ..,|.. J` 7TWi ..JJ,.: % oo ,. ...., .,E 3 7`g.M: P 41 JT7"' O. .J,; `` V"7N. G. ""Q+ .Zu.,!` Z` .9.. . J&..J! . ,: 7"9a JM"! .5J. .. ..F` 78a.. ` ..2' J9Ksaw0"' .EJ?A...a. q...g...gi .m...qa..,y: .HQFNB&...mm ,Z|,m.a.,dp .,?f` ,E?:"^7b `A| . .F^^7'^4, .MMMMMMMMMMMQzna, ...f"A.JdT J: Jp, `JNa..........A....af` `^^^^^'` ________
< cheese > -------- \ \ _____ _________ / \_/ | | || | || | ###\ /### | | | 0 \/ 0 | | /| | | / | < |\ \
| /| | | |
| | \_______/ | | |
| | | / /
/|| /||| ----------------| | | | | *** *** /___\ /___\ ______
< cock > ------ \ \ /\/\ \ / | 0 >> |___| __((_<| |
( |
(__________) | | | | /\ /\ _______
< cower > ------- \ \ ,__, | | (oo)\| |___ (__)\| | )\_ | |_w | \ | | || * Cower.... ________
< daemon > -------- \ , , \ /( )` \ \ \___ / | /- _ `-/ ' (/\/ \ \ /\ / / | ` \ O O ) / | `-^--'`< ' (_.) _ ) / `.___/` / `-----' /
<----. __ / __ \
<----|====O)))==) \) /====
<----' `--' `.__,' \ | | \ / ______( (_ / \______ ,' ,-----' | \ `--{__________) \/ _________
< default > --------- \ ^__^ \ (oo)\_______ (__)\ )\/\ ||----w | || || ________________
< dragon-and-cow > ---------------- \ ^ /^ \ / \ // \ \ |\___/| / \// .\ \ /O O \__ / // | \ \ *----* / / \/_/ // | \ \ \ | @___@` \/_ // | \ \ \/\ \ 0/0/| \/_ // | \ \ \ \ 0/0/0/0/| \/// | \ \ | | 0/0/0/0/0/_|_ / ( // | \ _\ | / 0/0/0/0/0/0/`/,_ _ _/ ) ; -. | _ _\.-~ / / ,-} _ *-.|.-~-. .~ ~ \ \__/ `/\ / ~-. _ .-~ / \____(oo) *. } { / ( (--) .----~-.\ \-` .~ //__\\ \__ Ack! ///.----..< \ _ -~ // \\ ///-._ _ _ _ _ _ _{^ - - - - ~ ________
< dragon > -------- \ / \ //\ \ |\___/| / \// \\ /0 0 \__ / // | \ \ / / \/_/ // | \ \ @_^_@'/ \/_ // | \ \ //_^_/ \/_ // | \ \ ( //) | \/// | \ \ ( / /) _|_ / ) // | \ _\ ( // /) '/,_ _ _/ ( ; -. | _ _\.-~ .-~~~^-. (( / / )) ,-{ _ `-.|.-~-. .~ `. (( // / )) '/\ / ~-. _ .-~ .-~^-. \ (( /// )) `. { } / \ \ (( / )) .----~-.\ \-' .~ \ `. \^-. ///.----..> \ _ -~ `. ^-` ^-_ ///-._ _ _ _ _ _ _}^ - - - - ~ ~-- ,.-~ /.-~ ______
< duck > ------ \ \ \ >()_ (__)__ _ __________
< elephant > ---------- \ /\ ___ /\ \ // \/ \/ \\ (( O O )) \\ / \ // \/ | | \/ | | | | | | | | | o | | | | | |m| |m| ___________________
< elephant-in-snake > ------------------- \ \ .... . ........ . . . . ....... ......... ..............................
Elephant inside ASCII snake ______
< eyes > ------ \ \ .::!!!!!!!:. .!!!!!:. .:!!!!!!!!!!!! ~~~~!!!!!!. .:!!!!!!!!!UWWW$$$ :$$NWX!!: .:!!!!!!XUWW$$$$$$$$$P $$$$$##WX!: .<!!!!UW$$$$" $$$$$$$$# $$$$$ $$$UX :!!UW$$$$$$$$$ 4$$$$$* ^$$$B $$$$\ $$$$$$$$$$$$ d$$R" "*$bd$$$$ '*$$$$$$$$$$$o+#" """" """"""" _______________
< flaming-sheep > --------------- \ . . . \ . . . ` , \ .; . : .' : : : . \ i..`: i` i.i.,i i . \ `,--.|i |i|ii|ii|i: UooU\.'@@@@@@`.||' \__/(@@@@@@@@@@)' (@@@@@@@@) `YY~~~~YY' || || ______________
< ghostbusters > -------------- \ \ \ __---__ _- /--______ __--( / \ )XXXXXXXXXXX\v. .-XXX( O O )XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX- /XXX( U ) XXXXXXX\ /XXXXX( )--_ XXXXXXXXXXX\ /XXXXX/ ( O ) XXXXXX \XXXXX\ XXXXX/ / XXXXXX \__ \XXXXX XXXXXX__/ XXXXXX \__----> ---___ XXX__/ XXXXXX \__ / \- --__/ ___/\ XXXXXX / ___--/= \-\ ___/ XXXXXX '--- XXXXXX \-\/XXX\ XXXXXX /XXXXX \XXXXXXXXX \ /XXXXX/ \XXXXXX > _/XXXXX/ \XXXXX--__/ __-- XXXX/ -XXXXXXXX--------------- XXXXXX- \XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX/ ""VXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXV"" _____
< gnu > ----- \ ,-----._ . \ . ,' `-.__,------._ // \ __\\' `-.
(( _____-'___)) | `:='/ (alf_/ | `.=| |=' | |) O | \ | | /\ \ | / . / \ \ | .-..__ ___ .--' \ |\ \ | |o o | ``--.___. / `-' \ \\ \ | `--'' ' .' / / | | | | \ | | / / | | | mmm | || | | /| | ( .' \ \ || | | | | \ \ // / / | | \ \ || |_| / | |_/ /_| /__/ _________
< head-in > --------- \ \ ^__^ / (oo)\_______/ _________ (__)\ )=( ____|_ \_____ ||----w | \ \ \_____ | || || || || ____________
< hellokitty > ------------ \ \ /\_)o< | \ | O . O| \_____/ ______
< kiss > ------ \ \ ,;;;;;;;, ;;;;;;;;;;;, ;;;;;'_____;' ;;;(/))))|((\ _;;((((((|)))) / |_\\\\\\\\\\\\ .--~( \ ~)))))))))))) / \ `\-(((((((((((\\ | | `\ ) |\ /|) | | `. _/ \_____/ | | , `\~ / | \ \ / | `. `\| / | ~- `\ / \____~._/~ -_, (\ |-----|\ \ ';; | | :;;;' \ | / | | | | | _______
< kitty > ------- \ \ ("`-' '-/") .___..--' ' "`-._ ` *_ * ) `-. ( ) .`-.__. `) (_Y_.) ' ._ ) `._` ; `` -. .-' _.. `--'_..-_/ /--' _ .' ,4 ( i l ),-'' ( l i),' ( ( ! .-' _______
< koala > ------- \ \ ___ {~._.~} ( Y ) ()~*~() (_)-(_) ______
< kosh > ------ \ \ \ ___ _____ ___ / \ / /| / \
| | / / | | |
| | /____/ | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | {} | / | |
| | |____|/ | |
| | |==| | |
| \___________/ |
| |
| | ____________
< luke-koala > ------------ \ \ . ___ // {~._.~}// ( Y )K/ ()~*~() (_)-(_) Luke Skywalker koala ______________
< mech-and-cow > -------------- ,-----. | | ,--| |-. __,----| | | | ,;:: | `_____' | `._______| i^i | `----| |---'| . ,-------._| |== ||// | |_|P`. /'/ `-------' 'Y Y/'/' .== /_ ^__^ / /'| `i (oo)_______ /' / | | (__) )/ /' / | `i ||----w | ___,;`----'.___L_,-'`__ || || i_____;----.____i""____ ______
< meow > ------ \ \ , _ ___.--'''`--''//-,-_--_. \`"' ` || \\ \ \\/ / // / ,-\\`,_ /'` \ \ || Y | \|/ / // / - |__ `-, /@"\ ` \ `\ | | ||/ // | \/ \ `-._`-,_., / _.-. `.-\,___/\ _/|_/_\_\/|_/ | `-._._) `-'``/ / | // \__/\__ / \__/ \ `-' /-\/ | -| \__ \ |-' | __/\ / _/ \/ __,-' ) ,' _|' (((__/(((_.' ((___..-'((__,' ______
< milk > ------ \ ____________ \ |__________| / /\ / / \ /___________/___/| | | | | ==\ /== | | | O O | \ \ | | < | \ \| /| | \ \ / | \_____/ | / / / /| | / /|
/||\| | /||\/ -------------| | | | | <__/ \__> _________
< moofasa > --------- \ ____ \ / \ | ^__^ | | (oo) |______ | (__) | )\/\ \____/|----w | || || Moofasa _______
< moose > ------- \ \ \_\_ _/_/ \ \__/ (oo)\_______ (__)\ )\/\ ||----w | || || ___________
< mutilated > ----------- \ \_______ v__v \ \ O ) (oo) ||----w | (__) || || \/\ ______
< pony > ------ \ /\/\ \ \/\/ \ / -\ \ / oo -\ \ / \ | ---\ -\ \--/ \ \ | -\ \ -\ -------------\ /-\ \ \-------/ ---/ \ \ |\ \ | / | | \ | \ | | / \ | | / \ | \ \ \| - /--------\ | o \+ +--------- \ | | | | \ | | \ | | | | \ | | \ | \ | | | | | \ \ | | | | +--+ ---+ ______________
< pony-smaller > -------------- \ _^^ \ _- oo\ \----- \______ \ )\ ||-----|| \ || || _____
< ren > ----- \ \ ____ /# /_\_ | |/o\o\ | \\_/_/ / |_ |
| ||\_ ~|
| ||| \/
| |||_ \// | || | ||_ \ \_| o| /\___/ / ||||__ (___)_) _______
< sheep > ------- \ \ __ UooU\.'@@@@@@`. \__/(@@@@@@@@@@) (@@@@@@@@) `YY~~~~YY' || || __________
< skeleton > ---------- \ (__) \ /oo| \ (_"_)*+++++++++* //I#\\\\\\\\I\ I[I|I|||||I I ` I`I'///'' I I I I I I ~ ~ ~ ~ Scowleton _________
< snowman > --------- \ ___### /oo\ ||| \ / \|/ /""\ I
()| |(I) \ / I /""""\ I | |I | |I \____/ I _________________
< sodomized-sheep > ----------------- \ __ \ (oo) \ ( ) \ /--\ __ / \ \ UooU\.'@@@@@@`.\ ) \__/(@@@@@@@@@@) / (@@@@@@@@)(( `YY~~~~YY' \\ || || >> _____________
< stegosaurus > -------------
\ . . \ / `. .' " \ .---. < > < > .---. \ | \ \ - ~ ~ - / / | _____ ..-~ ~-..-~ | | \~~~\.' `./~~~/ --------- \__/ \__/ .' O \ / / \ " (_____, `._.' | } \/~~~/ `----. / } | / \__/ `-. | / | / `. ,~~| ~-.__| /_ - ~ ^| /- _ `..-' | / | / ~-. `-. _ _ _ |_____| |_____| ~ - . _ _ _ _ _> ________
< stimpy > -------- \ . _ . \ |\_|/__/| / / \/ \ \ /__|O||O|__ \ |/_ \_/\_/ _\ | | | (____) | || \/\___/\__/ // (_/ || | || | ||\ \ //_/ \______// __ || __|| (____(____) ______
< suse > ------ \ \____ /@ ~-. \/ __ .- | // // @ ____________
< three-eyes > ------------ \ ^___^ \ (ooo)\_______ (___)\ )\/\ ||----w | || || ________
< turkey > -------- \ ,+*^^*+___+++_ \ ,*^^^^ ) \ _+* ^**+_ \ +^ _ _++*+_+++_, ) _+^^*+_ ( ,+*^ ^ \+_ ) { ) ( ,( ,_+--+--, ^) ^\ { (@) } f ,( ,+-^ __*_*_ ^^\_ ^\ ) {:;-/ (_+*-+^^^^^+*+*<_ _++_)_ ) ) / ( / ( ( ,___ ^*+_+* ) < < \ U _/ ) *--< ) ^\-----++__) ) ) ) ( ) _(^)^^)) ) )\^^^^^))^*+/ / / ( / (_))_^)) ) ) ))^^^^^))^^^)__/ +^^ ( ,/ (^))^)) ) ) ))^^^^^^^))^^) _) *+__+* (_))^) ) ) ))^^^^^^))^^^^^)____*^ \ \_)^)_)) ))^^^^^^^^^^))^^^^) (_ ^\__^^^^^^^^^^^^))^^^^^^^) ^\___ ^\__^^^^^^))^^^^^^^^)\\ ^^^^^\uuu/^^\uuu/^^^^\^\^\^\^\^\^\^\ ___) >____) >___ ^\_\_\_\_\_\_\) ^^^//\\_^^//\\_^ ^(\_\_\_\) ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^ ________
< turtle > -------- \ ___-------___ \ _-~~ ~~-_ \ _-~ /~-_ /^\__/^\ /~ \ / \ /| O|| O| / \_______________/ \ | |___||__| / / \ \ | \ / / \ \ | (_______) /______/ \_________ \ | / / \ / \ \ \^\\ \ / \ / \ || \______________/ _-_ //\__// \ ||------_-~~-_ ------------- \ --/~ ~\ || __/ ~-----||====/~ |==================| |/~~~~~ (_(__/ ./ / \_\ \. (_(___/ \_____)_) _____
< tux > ----- \ \ .--. |o_o | |:_/ | // \ \ (| | ) /'\_ _/`\ \___)=(___/ _________
< unipony > --------- \ \ \ \_ \ \\ \ \\/\ \ _\\/ \ / -\ \ / oo -\ \ / \ | ---\ -\ \--/ \ \ | -\ \ -\ -------------\ /-\ \ \-------/ ---/ \ \ |\ \ | / | | \ | \ | | / \ | | / \ | \ \ \| - /--------\ | o \+ +--------- \ | | | | \ | | \ | | | | \ | | \ | \ | | | | | \ \ | | | | +--+ ---+ _________________
< unipony-smaller > ----------------- \ \ \ \ \ _\^ \ _- oo\ \---- \______ \ )\ ||-----|| \ || || _______
< vader > ------- \ ,-^-. \ !oYo! \ /./=\.\______ ## )\/\ ||-----w|| || || Cowth Vader _____________
< vader-koala > ------------- \ \ . .---. // Y|o o|Y// /_(i=i)K/ ~()~*~()~ (_)-(_) Darth Vader koala _____
< www > ----- \ ^__^ \ (oo)\_______ (__)\ )\/\ ||--WWW | || ||

the following perl oneliner will display the different "cows" available in /usr/share/cowsay/cows/:

perl -e '$d="/usr/share/cowsay/cows";opendir(DIR,$d); do "$d/$_" && print "\n$_:\n$the_cow" while(readdir(DIR))'

The output is again quite long and piping to less is a good idea:

head-in.cow: ^__^ / ()\_______/ _________ (__)\ )=( ____|_ \_____ ||----w | \ \ \_____ | || || || ||
kiss.cow: ,;;;;;;;, ;;;;;;;;;;;, ;;;;;'_____;' ;;;(/))))|((\ _;;((((((|)))) / |_\\\\\\\\\\\\ .--~( \ ~)))))))))))) / \ `\-(((((((((((\\ | | `\ ) |\ /|) | | `. _/ \_____/ | | , `\~ / | \ \ / | `. `\| / | ~- `\ / \____~._/~ -_, (\ |-----|\ \ ';; | | :;;;' \ | / | | | | |
moofasa.cow: ____ / \ | ^__^ | | () |______ | (__) | )\/\ \____/|----w | || || Moofasa
vader.cow: ,-^-. !oYo! /./=\.\______ ## )\/\ ||-----w|| || || Cowth Vader
cower.cow: ,__, | | (oo)\| |___ (__)\| | )\_ | |_w | \ | | || * Cower....
apt.cow: (__) () /------\/ / | || * /\---/\ ~~ ~~
dragon-and-cow.cow: ^ /^ / \ // \ |\___/| / \// .\ /O O \__ / // | \ \ *----* / / \/_/ // | \ \ \ | @___@` \/_ // | \ \ \/\ \ 0/0/| \/_ // | \ \ \ \ 0/0/0/0/| \/// | \ \ | | 0/0/0/0/0/_|_ / ( // | \ _\ | / 0/0/0/0/0/0/`/,_ _ _/ ) ; -. | _ _\.-~ / / ,-} _ *-.|.-~-. .~ ~ \ \__/ `/\ / ~-. _ .-~ / \____() *. } { / ( (--) .----~-.\ \-` .~ //__\\ \__ Ack! ///.----..< \ _ -~ // \\ ///-._ _ _ _ _ _ _{^ - - - - ~
dragon.cow: / \ //\ |\___/| / \// \\ /0 0 \__ / // | \ \ / / \/_/ // | \ \ @_^_@'/ \/_ // | \ \ //_^_/ \/_ // | \ \ ( //) | \/// | \ \ ( / /) _|_ / ) // | \ _\ ( // /) '/,_ _ _/ ( ; -. | _ _\.-~ .-~~~^-. (( / / )) ,-{ _ `-.|.-~-. .~ `. (( // / )) '/\ / ~-. _ .-~ .-~^-. \ (( /// )) `. { } / \ \ (( / )) .----~-.\ \-' .~ \ `. \^-. ///.----..> \ _ -~ `. ^-` ^-_ ///-._ _ _ _ _ _ _}^ - - - - ~ ~-- ,.-~ /.-~
elephant-in-snake.cow: .... . ........ . . . . ....... ......... ..............................
Elephant inside ASCII snake
ren.cow: ____ /# /_\_ | |/o\o\ | \\_/_/ / |_ |
| ||\_ ~|
| ||| \/
| |||_ \// | || | ||_ \ \_| o| /\___/ / ||||__ (___)_)
kitty.cow: ("`-' '-/") .___..--' ' "`-._ ` *_ * ) `-. ( ) .`-.__. `) (_Y_.) ' ._ ) `._` ; `` -. .-' _.. `--'_..-_/ /--' _ .' ,4 ( i l ),-'' ( l i),' ( ( ! .-'
ghostbusters.cow: __---__ _- /--______ __--( / \ )XXXXXXXXXXX\v. .-XXX( O O )XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX- /XXX( U ) XXXXXXX\ /XXXXX( )--_ XXXXXXXXXXX\ /XXXXX/ ( O ) XXXXXX \XXXXX\ XXXXX/ / XXXXXX \__ \XXXXX XXXXXX__/ XXXXXX \__----> ---___ XXX__/ XXXXXX \__ / \- --__/ ___/\ XXXXXX / ___--/= \-\ ___/ XXXXXX '--- XXXXXX \-\/XXX\ XXXXXX /XXXXX \XXXXXXXXX \ /XXXXX/ \XXXXXX > _/XXXXX/ \XXXXX--__/ __-- XXXX/ -XXXXXXXX--------------- XXXXXX- \XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX/ ""VXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXV""
gnu.cow: ,-----._ . . ,' `-.__,------._ // __\\' `-.
(( _____-'___)) | `:='/ (alf_/ | `.=| |=' | |) O | \ | | /\ \ | / . / \ \ | .-..__ ___ .--' \ |\ \ | |o o | ``--.___. / `-' \ \\ \ | `--'' ' .' / / | | | | \ | | / / | | | mmm | || | | /| | ( .' \ \ || | | | | \ \ // / / | | \ \ || |_| / | |_/ /_| /__/
beavis.zen.cow: __------~~-, ,' , / \ / : | ' | | | | | _-- | _| =-. .-. || o|/o/ _. | / ~ \ | (____@) ___~ | |_===~~~.` | _______.--~ | \________ | \ | __/-___-- -__ / _ \
turkey.cow: ,+*^^*+___+++_ ,*^^^^ ) _+* ^**+_ +^ _ _++*+_+++_, ) _+^^*+_ ( ,+*^ ^ \+_ ) { ) ( ,( ,_+--+--, ^) ^\ { (@) } f ,( ,+-^ __*_*_ ^^\_ ^\ ) {:;-/ (_+*-+^^^^^+*+*<_ _++_)_ ) ) / ( / ( ( ,___ ^*+_+* ) < < \ U _/ ) *--< ) ^\-----++__) ) ) ) ( ) _(^)^^)) ) )\^^^^^))^*+/ / / ( / (_))_^)) ) ) ))^^^^^))^^^)__/ +^^ ( ,/ (^))^)) ) ) ))^^^^^^^))^^) _) *+__+* (_))^) ) ) ))^^^^^^))^^^^^)____*^ \ \_)^)_)) ))^^^^^^^^^^))^^^^) (_ ^\__^^^^^^^^^^^^))^^^^^^^) ^\___ ^\__^^^^^^))^^^^^^^^)\\ ^^^^^\uuu/^^\uuu/^^^^\^\^\^\^\^\^\^\ ___) >____) >___ ^\_\_\_\_\_\_\) ^^^//\\_^^//\\_^ ^(\_\_\_\) ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^
kosh.cow: ___ _____ ___ / \ / /| / \
| | / / | | |
| | /____/ | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | {} | / | |
| | |____|/ | |
| | |==| | |
| \___________/ |
| |
| |
three-eyes.cow: ^___^ ()\_______ (___)\ )\/\ ||----w | || ||
bud-frogs.cow: oO)-. .-(Oo /__ _\ /_ __\ \ \( | ()~() | )/ / \__|\ | (-___-) | /|__/ ' '--' ==`-'== '--' '
meow.cow: , _ ___.--'''`--''//-,-_--_. \`"' ` || \\ \ \\/ / // / ,-\\`,_ /'` \ \ || Y | \|/ / // / - |__ `-, /@"\ ` \ `\ | | ||/ // | \/ \ `-._`-,_., / _.-. `.-\,___/\ _/|_/_\_\/|_/ | `-._._) `-'``/ / | // \__/\__ / \__/ \ `-' /-\/ | -| \__ \ |-' | __/\ / _/ \/ __,-' ) ,' _|' (((__/(((_.' ((___..-'((__,'
default.cow: ^__^ ()\_______ (__)\ )\/\ ||----w | || ||
turtle.cow: ___-------___ _-~~ ~~-_ _-~ /~-_ /^\__/^\ /~ \ / \ /| O|| O| / \_______________/ \ | |___||__| / / \ \ | \ / / \ \ | (_______) /______/ \_________ \ | / / \ / \ \ \^\\ \ / \ / \ || \______________/ _-_ //\__// \ ||------_-~~-_ ------------- \ --/~ ~\ || __/ ~-----||====/~ |==================| |/~~~~~ (_(__/ ./ / \_\ \. (_(___/ \_____)_)
daemon.cow: , , /( )` \ \___ / | /- _ `-/ ' (/\/ \ \ /\ / / | ` \ O O ) / | `-^--'`< ' (_.) _ ) / `.___/` / `-----' /
<----. __ / __ \
<----|====O)))==) \) /====
<----' `--' `.__,' \ | | \ / ______( (_ / \______ ,' ,-----' | \ `--{__________) \/
unipony.cow: \ \_ \\ \\/\ _\\/ / -\ / -\ / \ | ---\ -\ \--/ \ \ | -\ \ -\ -------------\ /-\ \ \-------/ ---/ \ \ |\ \ | / | | \ | \ | | / \ | | / \ | \ \ \| - /--------\ | o \+ +--------- \ | | | | \ | | \ | | | | \ | | \ | \ | | | | | \ \ | | | | +--+ ---+
flaming-sheep.cow: . . . . . . ` , .; . : .' : : : . i..`: i` i.i.,i i . `,--.|i |i|ii|ii|i: UU\.'@@@@@@`.||' \__/(@@@@@@@@@@)' (@@@@@@@@) `YY~~~~YY' || ||
milk.cow: ____________ |__________| / /\ / / \ /___________/___/| | | | | ==\ /== | | | O O | \ \ | | < | \ \| /| | \ \ / | \_____/ | / / / /| | / /|
/||\| | /||\/ -------------| | | | | <__/ \__>
skeleton.cow: (__) /| (_"_)*+++++++++* //I#\\\\\\\\I\ I[I|I|||||I I ` I`I'///'' I I I I I I ~ ~ ~ ~ Scowleton
suse.cow: ____ /@ ~-. \/ __ .- | // // @
stegosaurus.cow: . . / `. .' " .---. < > < > .---. | \ \ - ~ ~ - / / | _____ ..-~ ~-..-~ | | \~~~\.' `./~~~/ --------- \__/ \__/ .' O \ / / \ " (_____, `._.' | } \/~~~/ `----. / } | / \__/ `-. | / | / `. ,~~| ~-.__| /_ - ~ ^| /- _ `..-' | / | / ~-. `-. _ _ _ |_____| |_____| ~ - . _ _ _ _ _>
sodomized-sheep.cow: __ () () /--\ __ / \ \ UU\.'@@@@@@`.\ ) \__/(@@@@@@@@@@) / (@@@@@@@@)(( `YY~~~~YY' \\ || || >>
bunny.cow: \ \ /\ ( ) .( o ).
elephant.cow: /\ ___ /\ // \/ \/ \\ (( O O )) \\ / \ // \/ | | \/ | | | | | | | | | o | | | | | |m| |m|
luke-koala.cow: . ___ // {~._.~}// ( Y )K/ ()~*~() (_)-(_) Luke Skywalker koala
calvin.cow: ., . .TR d' k,l .R.b .t .Je .P q. a|.b .f .Z% .b .h .E` # J: 2` . .,.a .E ,L.M' ?:b `| ..J9!`., q,.h.M` `.., ..,""` ..2"` .M, J8` `: ` 3; . Jk ..., `^7"90c. j, ,! .7"'`j,.| .n. ... j, 7' .r` 4: L `... ..,m. J` ..,|.. J` 7TWi ..JJ,.: % ,. ...., .,E 3 7`g.M: P 41 JT7"' O. .J,; `` V"7N. G. ""Q+ .Zu.,!` Z` .9.. . J&..J! . ,: 7"9a JM"! .5J. .. ..F` 78a.. ` ..2' J9Ksaw0"' .EJ?A...a. q...g...gi .m...qa..,y: .HQFNB&...mm ,Z|,m.a.,dp .,?f` ,E?:"^7b `A| . .F^^7'^4, .MMMMMMMMMMMQzna, ...f"A.JdT J: Jp, `JNa..........A....af` `^^^^^'`
sheep.cow: __ UU\.'@@@@@@`. \__/(@@@@@@@@@@) (@@@@@@@@) `YY~~~~YY' || ||
cock.cow: /\/\ \ / | 0 >> |___| __((_<| |
( |
(__________) | | | | /\ /\
eyes.cow: .::!!!!!!!:. .!!!!!:. .:!!!!!!!!!!!! ~~~~!!!!!!. .:!!!!!!!!!UWWW$$$ :$$NWX!!: .:!!!!!!XUWW$$$$$$$$$P $$$$$##WX!: .<!!!!UW$$$$" $$$$$$$$# $$$$$ $$$UX :!!UW$$$$$$$$$ 4$$$$$* ^$$$B $$$$\ $$$$$$$$$$$$ d$$R" "*$bd$$$$ '*$$$$$$$$$$$o+#" """" """""""
mutilated.cow: \_______ v__v \ O ) () ||----w | (__) || || \/\
stimpy.cow: . _ . |\_|/__/| / / \/ \ \ /__|O||O|__ \ |/_ \_/\_/ _\ | | | (____) | || \/\___/\__/ // (_/ || | || | ||\ \ //_/ \______// __ || __|| (____(____)
pony-smaller.cow: _^^ _- \ \----- \______ \ )\ ||-----|| \ || ||
unipony-smaller.cow: \ \ _\^ _- \ \---- \______ \ )\ ||-----|| \ || ||
bong.cow: ^__^ _______/()
/\/( /(__) | W----|| |~| || || |~| ~~ |~| ~ |_| o |#|/ _+#+_
tux.cow: .--. |o_o | |:_/ | // \ \ (| | ) /'\_ _/`\ \___)=(___/
pony.cow: /\/\ \/\/ / -\ / -\ / \ | ---\ -\ \--/ \ \ | -\ \ -\ -------------\ /-\ \ \-------/ ---/ \ \ |\ \ | / | | \ | \ | | / \ | | / \ | \ \ \| - /--------\ | o \+ +--------- \ | | | | \ | | \ | | | | \ | | \ | \ | | | | | \ \ | | | | +--+ ---+
hellokitty.cow: /\_)o< | \ | O . O| \_____/
koala.cow: ___ {~._.~} ( Y ) ()~*~() (_)-(_)
cheese.cow: _____ _________ / \_/ | | || | || | ###\ /### | | | 0 \/ 0 | | /| | | / | < |\ \
| /| | | |
| | \_______/ | | |
| | | / /
/|| /||| ----------------| | | | | *** *** /___\ /___\
vader-koala.cow: . .---. // Y|o o|Y// /_(i=i)K/ ~()~*~()~ (_)-(_) Darth Vader koala
moose.cow: \_\_ _/_/ \__/ ()\_______ (__)\ )\/\ ||----w | || ||
duck.cow: >()_ (__)__ _ ^__^ ()\_______ (__)\ )\/\ ||--WWW | || ||
mech-and-cow.cow: ,-----. | | ,--| |-. __,----| | | | ,;:: | `_____' | `._______| i^i | `----| |---'| . ,-------._| |== ||// | |_|P`. /'/ `-------' 'Y Y/'/' .== /_ ^__^ / /'| `i (oo)_______ /' / | | (__) )/ /' / | `i ||----w | ___,;`----'.___L_,-'`__ || || i_____;----.____i""____
snowman.cow: ___### /\ ||| \/ \|/ /""\ I
()| |(I) \ / I /""""\ I | |I | |I \____/ I

(NSFW)

cowsay -l | grep -v \/ | xargs echo -n | xargs -d\ -n1 -I% cowsay -f % % | less

• List all available cows
• Remove any path info
• Make space separated
• For each file name, run cowsay -f filename filename
• Pipe to less for scrollability

Output (truncated):

 _____
< apt > ----- \ (__) (oo) /------\/ / | || * /\---/\ ~~ ~~ ____________
< beavis.zen > ------------ \ __------~~-, \ ,' , / \ / : | ' | | | | | _-- | _| =-. .-. || o|/o/ _. | / ~ \ | (____@) ___~ | |_===~~~.` | _______.--~ | \________ | \ | __/-___-- -__ / _ \ ______
...