302 ox THE POLLED ANGUS OR ABERDEEN 



time to become the principal, if not the sole breed in this part of 

 the 



" Land of brown heath and shaggy wood." 



Being an intermediate race between the mountain types and 

 those of the richer plains, Doddies thriv3 well, for a healthy 

 constitution and a disposition to fatten early seem to be as much 

 the special characteristics of the polled Angus or Aberdeen, as 

 is a heavy-milking propensity of the neat little Aryshire ; 

 hardihood and aptitude to withstand extreme privation of the 

 majestic West Highlander ; or, the capability to adapt itself to 

 any country or cliinate of the valuable shorthorn. 



Bistingii isliing Features. 



Polled Angus or Aberdeen cattle, both masculine and feminine, 

 are pleasing objects to the eye, inasmuch as they are finely and 

 symmetrically made, are graceful in movement, have good con- 

 stitutions, and are yielding to the touch. The modern poll is 

 much improved in appearance over its ancestors of the beginning 

 of the present century. This has l)een attained by the care exer- 

 cised by breeders in the selection of useful sires, and catering for 

 those points which breeders call '' good," and which now stamp 

 the genuine type. Altogether there are few if any breeds which 

 for general usefulness could compete successfully w^ith the black 

 skins in their native districts, being well adapted to the climatic 

 and physical character of the country and the mixed system of 

 farming practised therein. Belonging partially to the high-lands 

 and partially to the level plains, the race is eminently calculated 

 to thrive in a country diversified by mountain-chains and w^ell- 

 cultivated fields. Possessed of hardihood sufficient to enable it 

 to withstand the asperities of a varied climate, the poll is the 

 animal ^«r excellence for northerly and exposed situations, as it 

 has a disposition to thrive and fatten upon the produce of the 

 fields with little or no artificial food, and when ripe for the 

 butcher is a splendid w^eigher, bringing down the scales against 

 apparently much larger animals of other breeds. This proves 

 that it is not height that constitutes size, but length, width, depth 

 and solidity of flesh. The chief points or characteristics of a 

 well-bred polled Angus or Aberdeen bull are : — A nicely formed 

 head well put on ; eyes bright and prominent, and a good 

 breadth between them ; a clean throat and sweet muzzle, with 

 not too great a distance from eye to nose ; a liigh poll, and ears 

 moderately sized. The neck should be long, clean, and some- 

 what full on the top ; shoulders broad, but joining without 

 abruptness to both neck and chin ; the chest deep and expansive ; 

 the legs somewhat short, clean-boned, and supporting the body 

 firmly. The back level and straight ; ribs nicely sprung ; barrel 

 deep and full behind the shoulders, ensuring a large girth: well 



