NORTH DEVON CATTLE. 221 



were proud of their country, and prouder of their cattle, their 

 choicest possession." "When their country was invaded by 

 their enemies, they fled to the mountains for safety and pro- 

 tection, and took with them their cattle, upon which to subsist ; 

 and thus were preserved both themselves and their cattle ; so 

 that the races of cattle in these districts have been the same 

 from time immemorial." In a few instances, the wild forest 

 cattle have been kept distinct, in a wild state, to this day ; 

 as in the parks of Chillingham and Chartley ; and arc said to 

 be similar to those that existed in the tenth century ; and also 

 bear a strong resemblance to the present domestic breeds of 

 that region. 



COLOR. 



"It seems the people had a superstitious reverence attached 

 to the red color (in Scotland and Wales) in the tradition of 

 the country ; the milk of the red cow was considered a remedy 

 for every disease, and a preservative from every evil." The 

 breeders of the improved Devons adhere scrupulously to the 

 deep red color of the hair, and reject individuals that have a 

 tendency to produce white. And it seems that in this way, 

 if no other, the color of the Devons has been established and 

 perpetuated. The deep red color of the pure-bred Devon is 

 implanted so strongly, that there is no race in which an 

 admixture of foreign blood is so easily traced ; nor is there a 

 race that has remained so free from foreign intermixture. 

 Their color is generally stamped on the progeny, in a cross 

 with any other breed ; so much so, that when the Devon 

 bull is crossed on the native and grade cows, of whatever 

 color, the progeny are almost invariably red like the sire. 



ENGLISH IMPROVED DEVONS. 



The improvement of these ancient races of cattle, which 

 has resulted in the present perfected breed, was commenced 

 about one hundred and fifty years ago. 



Mr. Shillabear, the agent for the present Earl of Leicester, 

 states that it was towards the close of the last century, that 

 the late Lord Leicester (who was a very good judge of stock) 

 became a purchaser, not only of Devon steers for working, 

 but also of the best males and females for breeding purposes, 

 and, as is well known, he soon established a valuable herd. 



