of the Vienna Exhibition, 1873. 



10 

 o 



food. The Podolian cattle are especially useful for grazing purposes, and 

 stall-feeding is equallj' suitable to them. 



Their colour is generally white or silver-grey, with variations passing into 

 dark-grey, which shade is particularly seen in the bulls. These are darker in 

 colour than the cows, and, indeed, are dark-grey on the neck, dewlap, and 

 fore-feet, passing into white towards the ribs. The muzzle is white, the 

 nostrils and upper lip black ; the back is level, the set-on of the tail being iu 

 the same straight line. 



M'drzthaler. — These beautiful cattle are native to Austria, 

 and are found pure in the valleys of the Miirz and the Mur, in 

 Stjria. They are considered to be closely allied to the Hungarian 

 cattle. The oxen work from three to eight years in the valleys 

 and five or six years on the mountains, after which they are 

 fatted. The cows are great milkers, and have been known to 

 produce 775 gallons per annum, and 464 gallons is given as a 

 usual average. 



JFig. 3. — MilrztJial Coio (Styna), exhibited hj Geysa Bittei- von Wachtler. 



The characteristic peculiarities of the pure Miirzthal race are the follow- 

 ing : — The skin and mucous membrane are of a dark colour, as is shown in the 

 mouth and on the tongue (blue tongue), muzzle dark ; the horns are white, 

 short, smooth, and thin, but black at the tips, directed forwards, and then 

 turned somewhat upwards ; the tail is long and thin, and is furnished with a 

 black tuft ; hoofs, black ; the colour of the hair is bright or dark-grey (badger- 

 grey), with brighter stripes round the muzzle ; colour-rings round the eyes, 

 and dark-coloured belly. The calves of the pure breed have a dark-blue 

 tongue. 



Three varieties of the Miirzthal breed may be distinguished, namely, the 

 large, the medium, and the small. With regard to the distribution of the 

 whole of the pure Miirzthal race, they may be met with in the districts of 

 Miirzerschlag, Kindberg, Brack, Aflenz, Mariazell, and Leoben, to the numbi r 

 of 47,584 head. The Murboden race, which is a branch of the Miirzthal breed^ 



