757 



original wild white breed. The color is pure white; the ears, rirris of the eyes, muz- 

 zle, and hoofs being quite black. Like all other herds of the forest breed they have 

 a strong tendency to produce small black spots on the neck, sides, and legs." 



It may be added that all these various herds of white cattle are doubtless de- 

 rived from the half-wild cattle which, as we learn from the writings of Fitz-Stephen, 

 dating from about the year 1174, were common in the forests around London, and 

 probably therefore in other parts of England. When the various parks were in-! 

 closed a certain number of these cattle were driven in, and the herds thus obtained 

 have been preserved with more or less care by their subsequent owners. 



Our notice of the domestic breeds of European cattle will be brief, and chiefly 

 confined to those met with in the British Islands. 



First of all we have the small Shetland cattle, inhabiting the islands 

 c . from which they take their name, but also extending to the Orkneys 



and Iceland. These cattle, although of small size, are esteemed on ac- 

 count of their milk-yielding qualities, and the readiness with which they fatten. 

 They have short horns, and are generally parti-colored, with lighter shades of color 

 than the Highland breeds. 



The well-known Highland cattle, of which there are several strains, 



are characterized by their small size, the presence of horns, directed 



more or less upwardly, in both sexes, their short and sturdy limbs, 

 and their rough and generally uniformly-colored coats, which are greatly developed 

 in the region of the neck. Generally, the muzzle is black; but the color of the hair 

 may be either black or brown, or a mixture of these two, and sometimes of mouse 

 dun. These cattle are remarkable for their hardy habits, and vary in size according 

 to the nature of the pasture of their native districts. Although far from good milk- 

 ers, when brought down to the rich pastures of England they fatten readily. The 

 West Highland breed is the finest, that of the Central Highlands the smallest, and 

 that of the eastern coasts near the Lowlands the largest. 



The Welsh cattle are best known by the Pembroke breed, and are 



generally of rather larger size than the Highland races, with yellow or 

 orange-colored unctuous skins; the hair being generally black. They are quite as 

 hardy as the Highland cattle, and will thrive on very scanty nutriment, while they 

 have the advantage of being much better milkers. 



The Kerry breed is a well-known strain of hardy mountain cattle, 



agreeing in the color of their skins with the Pembroke breed. 

 The hair is generally black with a white streak down the back, and sometimes an- 

 other along the belly; but it may be pure black or brown, black and white, or black 

 and brown. The horns are long, tapering, and directed upward. These cattle are 

 valued for the good milking qualities of the cows, even when nourished upon infe- 

 rior pasture. 



The polled Angus breed, produced on the Devonian rocks of Forfar 



ngus and Kincardine, are larger than the Highland cattle, from which they 



are readily distinguished by the absence of horns in both sexes. They are mostly 



black with white markings, but may be brindled black and brown; the skin being 



dark colored. This breed has in all probability been derived from the Highland 



