THE EARMEK'S MAGAZINE, 



OCTOBER, 1S57. 



PLATE I. 



BRITAIN; A Clydesdale Stallion. 



THE PROPERTY OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE CONSORT. 



Britain, bred by Mr. Findlay, of Easter-hill, near Glasgow, in 1851, is consequently now turned 

 six years old. He was got by a horse of Mr. Paterson's, of Waterlee, Renfrewshire, out of a mare by 

 Clydesdale Tom, her dam by Mr. Kirkwood's Scotsman. 



Mr. Paterson's horse, the sire of Britain, was by Mr. Barr's Barangray, one of the most success- 

 ful stallions ever used in his district. Britain is equally good on the dam's side. She was bred by 

 Mr. Finlay, of Sandy Hills, and is herself out of a mare long renowned for the good stock she has 

 thrown. Indeed, " the family" on either side are famous as prize winners at the Scotch shows. 



In 1853 Britain took the first prize of 20 sovs. as the best three-year-old colt for agricultural pur- 

 poses at the Berwick Meeting of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. He was known 

 for two seasons after this in Scotland, but sold in the spring of 1856, to His Royal Highness Prince 

 Albert for 240 guineas, and at once transferred to the Home Farm at Windsor. In due course Britain 

 was entered for the Chelmsford Meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, where he was 

 again successful — taking the first prize as the best stallion for agricultural purposes, against a strong 

 show of Suffolk, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire horses. 



Britain is a beautiful dark bay in colour, well -mottled, like most of the Clydesdales, and altogether 

 very lively-looking. With a good Clyde head, he has a superb crest, neck, and forehand. He is a well- 

 furnished, good-bodied horse, with capital legs, but rather defective hind-quarters, and thin weakish 

 thighs. His crowning virtue, however, is his action, which both as a walker and trotter is very superior. 

 His stock, too, are full of promise. 



Britain is still at Windsor, where our portrait was taken a few weeks since, basking in the full sun- 

 shine of royal favour. 



PLATE IL 

 SHROPSHIRE DOWN WETHERS. 



THE PROPERTY OF MR. HENRY SMITH, JUN., OK SUTTON MADDOCK, SHIFFNAL. 



These wethers obtained the first prize, with the silver medal to breeder (also taken by Mr. Smith), 

 as the best pen of fat wethers of the Shropshire and other black or grey-faced short-woolled sheep, 

 entered at the Birmingham and Midland Counties show of Christmas last. They are thus spoken to 

 in our report of that meeting : — " We especially admired Mr. Smith's prize wethers, for their splendid 

 quality of meat, broad chines, and full plaits, and wonderfully good loins and rumps." 



The Sh.opshire Downs, now fast rising in repute, are originally descended from a hardy mountain 

 breed, through which they inherit an excellent constitution. This enables them to thrive on some of 

 the most exposed districts ; while on more fertile pastures they evince a rapidity of growth, and natural 

 OLD SERIES.] X [VOL. XLVIL— No. 4. 



