SECRETARY'S REPORT. 145 



The Chest must retaais sufficient width and roundness to insure constitu- 

 tion. The lightness of the fore- quarter, and the "wedge shape" of the 

 animal from the hind-qwarter forward, arising more from a small, flat and 

 thin shoulder, than from any undue narrowness of the chest, 12 



The Crops easily blend in with so thin a shoulder, and prevent all hol- 

 lowness behind, 4 



The Brisket not over-loading the fore-end, but light, 4 



The Back should be straight, and the loin wide, the hips rather high and 

 •well spread, 8 



The Pelvis roomy, causing a good breadth at what is termed the 

 " thurl," or " round bone," and between the points of the rumps, 4 



The (Quarters long, tolerably muscular, and full in their upper portion, 

 but moulding into the thighs below, which should have a degree of Hatness, 

 affording thus more space for a full udder. The flank well let down, but 



not heavy, ^ 



The Ribs, behind, springing out venj round and full, affording space for 

 a large udder, which by Ayrshire breeders is considered very essential to 

 secure the milking property ; the whole carcass thus acquiring increased 

 volume towards its posterior portion, 8 



The Riunps nearly level wilJi the back projecting but little, 4 



The Tail thin in its cord, of full Itngth, light in its hair, and set somewhat 

 farther into the back than wowld be admissible with some other breeds, 1 



The Legs delicate and fine in the bone, inclining to be short, and well 

 knit together at the joints, 3 



The Udder in this breed is of more especial importance, as the Ayrshlres 

 have been bred almost exclusively with reference to their miking proper- 

 ties. The great feature of the udder should be capacity, without being 

 fle-hj^ It should be carried squarely and broadly forward, and show itself 

 lar"-ely behind. As it rises upward it should not mingle too immediately 

 with the muscle of the thighs, but continue to preserve its own peculiar 

 texture of skin — thin, delicate and ample \n its folds. The teats should 

 stand wide apart, and be lengthy, but not large and coarse, 12 



Tlie Handling will show the skin to be of medium thickn&ss only, 

 moving freely under the hand, and evincing a readiness in the animal to 

 take on flesh, when a drain on the constitution is no longer made by the 

 milk-pail, 6 



The Hair soft and thick — in the phraseology of the country, woolly, 4 



Color, varies — a" dark red — a rich brown — a liver color, or mahogany, 

 running into almost a black ; those very much broken and spotty at the 

 edges on a white ground are the favorite colors at the present time. The 

 light yellow is, however, a color, sometimes found on very good cows, but 

 these pale colors are objected to from an impression that such belong to 

 animals of less constitution, I 



Carriage should be light, active, and even gay; this latter appearance 

 is much promoted by the upward turn o£ the horn, 1 



100 



10 



