7t JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1890. 



energetically throughout the different parts of the Southern Preai- 



dency by distribution of stock from a farm under the Department of 

 Agriculture. In the Bombay Presidency there was a farm at 

 Aligaou, near Sirur, but now a pedigree herd is being raised at the 

 Government experimental farm at Badgaon, in Khandesh, under the 

 Agricultural Department. 



Although this important matter receives a certain amount of 

 attention, it had long been felt that more was needed, and that spe- 

 cial Cattle Breeding Operations should be carried out by Govern- 

 ment similar to those resorted to for improvement of horse stock. 

 This matter is a subject of much debate, but is now generally 

 admitted as one of urgency and interest, for it is found that as the 

 rail increases road traffic lessens, and trade bullocks, being less in 

 demand, are more difficult to procure. Further, it is stated that the 

 Brahmin bull of to-day is inferior to his predecessors, and less reliable 

 as a father of his race, since in the course of time it has become a 

 mere matter of form to present a male animal to the temples, care 

 often not now being taken that the animal so presented is free from 

 blemish, and the best of the herd. Moreover, it is thought that with 

 multiplicity of responsibility has resulted diminished zeal for the 

 welfare of cattle ; that between district officers, agricultural officials, 

 local magnates, and so on, the race of cattle is apt to fall to the 

 ground. Whether these suppositions be thoroughly established or 

 not in detail, it seems to be a general impression that the cattle of 

 India are sadly deteriorating, that old methods of preservation are 

 falling into effeteness through time and superstition, and that some- 

 thing ought to be done to arrest the decline ere it be too late. 



Far from being a laudator femporis aeti, I am a firm believer in 

 modern progress, but I cannot blind myself to the following evidences 

 of deterioration : — (1) Military officers have in recent years fre- 

 quently reported unfavourably on the cattle supplied to them, and it 

 is especially unsatisfactory that the Amrut-Mahal has not invariably 

 sustained its old reputation. (2) There is a widespread opinion 

 among agriculturists, ryots and land-owners, that the cattle of the 

 present day are inferior. (3) Inspecting officers not unfrequently 

 confirm this view. (4) Purchasing committees for army bullocks 

 have to reject extensively for want of stoutness of bidld and for 



