BKEED OF CATTLE. 303 



ribbed home towards the hooks, which should be level and 

 moderately wide apart, but not too broad for the other propor- 

 tions ; and evenly fleshed to the tail. The twist full and long ; 

 well-fleshed but not protruding behind ; the tail of medium 

 thickness and hanging stiaight down. 



The head of the cow ought to have a more elongated shape and 

 feminine aspect than that of the bull ; the ears of good size : the 

 neck clean, straight, and well put on, with neither abrupt hollow 

 where it joins the shoulders, nor prominence on the top ; and 

 the shoulder thinner and sharper on the summit than in the male. 



In short, the head is fine, as becomes both sexes ; the carcase 

 round and low ; the legs short, and the shoulder in keeping with 

 the other parts. 



The skin should be soft and pliant to the touch, and covered 

 with a luxuriant crop of silky hair. When in motion, truly-bred 

 animals have an easy, springy, and stylish action. The colour is. 

 mostly black, though occasionally animals of great purity are 

 met with of a brindled cast ; a few brown along the spine and 

 around the muzzle ; others again, of equally pure descent, ha\'o 

 patches of white upon them, lilack is the colour most breeders 

 cultivate, althoui^^h we have often found that the brindled and 

 those with brown spines are capital milkers. It is therefore ta 

 be inferred that large indications of milk have their correspond- 

 ing colours ; notwithstanding this, milking families may be cul- 

 tivated with care, and the jet black of fashion strictly adhered to. 



The chief points in the breed have been summed up in the 

 following rhyme : — 



Annexed will be found in rhvinincj detail 

 The points to be seen in u polled Aniens male. 

 The head should be stylish, and neatly set on, 

 And the distance from eye to the nose not too long ; 

 Clean throat and sweet muzzle, bright prominent eyes, 

 AVith the poll pretty high, and ears of fair size. 

 The neck long and clean, somewhat full on the top ; 

 The chest quite expansive, and deep in the drop; 

 The legs should be short, though not to an extreme, 

 Nor the shoulders too full to the eye ever seen ; 

 The top free from sharpness, yet not over wide. 

 The back should be straight and level beside ; 

 The ribs nicely sprung ; a deep barrel as well 

 liibbed close to the hooks, if he must excel. 

 The twist full and long, not protruding behind, 

 The tiiil of nice thickness, and clearly dotined. 

 The hair soft and silky, below and above ; 

 Skin mellow and yielding as a lady's kid glove ; 

 Hach j)art well developed, yet proportionate withnl ; 

 The guit ligiit and graceful when leaving the stall. 

 The cow .sliould not have the Ijroadly-sct head, 

 iJut one strictly feminine adorn her instead ; 

 The neck well put on, straight, even, and clean, 

 AVith no abrujjt hollow, neck and shoulder between, 



