LIVE STOCK. 317 



(4.) The Ayrshire. The Ayrshire stock prevails, princi 

 pally, in Ayrshire, Scotland, and is certainly a beautiful race of 

 animals. It is maintained by some that they are of the same 

 breed, with some slight variations, as the improved Durham short 

 horns. However they may approximate each other in crossing, as 

 races, I believe them to be as distinct as the short horns and the 

 Devons, and a practised eye will easily discern the difference. 

 They are considerably smaller than the short horns ; much lower 

 on the leg ; with larger bodies in proportion to their size ; not of 

 such length as the short horns ; in general, with finer limbs ; their 

 faces not quite so long, nor so tapering. Their color somewhat 

 resembles that of the short horns, though there is less of white, and 

 the white not so snowy and clear, and none of the roan color, which 

 often makes the Durhams extremely beautiful. They are occa 

 sionally spotted with white, as if large flakes of snow, or feathers, 

 had been scattered over them. They are of good thrift, but do 

 not constantly show the same good condition as the best short 

 horns, especially when in milk. When dry, however, they 

 fatten well ; and no animals can be more prized than they, in the 

 highly improved and picturesque county of Ayr, where they are 

 principally found. They are chiefly valued for the dairy, and 

 are considered by many persons as, in this respect, excelling all 

 others, a conclusion to which I demur, for reasons which I shall 

 presently give. I am not about to depreciate them, for a fine 

 Ayrshire cow, with her full udder, is greatly to be admired for 

 her beauty and her product. It is said that they always do 

 much better in their own locality than when they are removed, 

 for example, into England. I know other animals who do not 

 thrive so well from home as at home. It is said of the Scotch 

 themselves, such is their native acuteness and enterprise, that 

 they will thrive in whatever country they may be thrown. 

 This does not appear to apply to their cows. There may, how 

 ever, be another reason. I recollect a man s having purchased a 

 cow, represented as remarkable for her extraordinary yield of 

 milk, from one of the richest pastures that could be found ; and 

 upon taking her home to shorter commons, he complained to the 

 former owner that he had imposed on him. &quot; Sir,&quot; said he, in 

 reply, &quot; I sold you my cow, but I did not sell you my pasture.&quot; 



The Ayrshire cows are extremely thrifty when dry. When 

 fatted, the four quarters weigh from twenty to thirty tron stone. 

 27* 



