Consumption in the Metropolis. 497 



the stock exhibited during the past year, and founded on the 

 most careful observation, we have arrived at the following 

 conclusions : — 



Percentage of Beasts shown in the Metropolitan Market in 1858. . ; 



Shorthorns 33-00 



Herefords 9-25 



Devons 5-00 



Longhorns I'OO 



Crosses 16"00 



Hi2;hlanders 2*00 



Polled Scots 4-00 



Ayrshire 0*25 



Irish crosses B'OO 



Welsh runts 1-50 



Irish 9-00 



Bremen, Touning, Dutch, and Gennan .. 9"50 



Spanish and Portuguese 1*50 



100-00 



The above table shows that the short-horned breed of beasts 

 now stands at the head of the list of stock for what may be 

 termed general consumption. They have gone on progressing at 

 a wonderful rate since the commencement of the present century, 

 and they are now to be found in almost every county in England 

 as well as in Ireland and Scotland. We may further observe 

 that half-bred beasts, between the Scots and short-horns, have 

 considerably increased within the last twenty years ; indeed, the 

 breeds, almost generally, have undergone important changes. 

 To show this, we direct attention to the annexed statement of the 

 percentage of the bullock supplies shown in Smithfield Cattle 

 Market in the year 1838 : — 



Percentage. 



Shorthorns SO'OO 



Herefords 13-00 • 



Devons 11-00 



Longhorns 2-50 



English crosses 13-00 



Highlanders 3-00 



Polled cattle 10-00 



Ayrshire 6-00 



Scotch crosses 1-50 



Welsh runts 1000 



100-00 



The changes in the various breeds, then, in twenty years, have 

 been remarkable. Whilst the short-horns and crosses have 

 increased, the Herefords, Devons, long-horns, and polled beasts 

 liave declined considerably. The same may be said of Welsh 

 runts ; but we find a great increase in Irish crosses, no doubt 

 with the short-horned breed imported from this country, and 



