36 THE BEEEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 



istic of the Shire since its inception. At a very early 

 time the hair was very abundant, and the writer has seen 

 some of the old-time Shires with even the lock of hair 

 growing from the region of the knee in front, and other 

 locks growing from near the point of the hock. Coarse- 

 ness and unusual profusion of hair indicate too much 

 grossness of organization, although a fine feather finishes 

 a heavy-bodied horse at the ground in a way that is 

 usually pleasing to the eye. The first Shires to come to 

 America showed these characteristics to an extreme 

 degree, and the prejudice of the American trade has not 

 in any degree abated with time. The first importation 

 to reach America was in 1836, and was made to London, 

 Ontario, Canada. The first Shires to come to the United 

 States were imported in 1853, and taken to Aurora, Illi- 

 nois. The importations since then have been mostly 

 into the states of Illinois and Iowa, and at no time have 

 been numerous, except, perhaps, between 1880 and 1890. 

 32. Description. In general characters, this breed is 

 very like the Clydesdale, being x perhaps, a little shorter in 

 the legs, and slightly larger (Fig. 6). The common colors 

 are bay, brown or black, with white markings on the face 

 and on the legs below the knees and hocks. Other colors 

 are found but are not common. In conformation, the 

 Shire is generally low, broad and stout, being heavy in 

 build and slow in movement. The shoulder is likely to 

 be too straight, making the action in front short and 

 stilted, although it is generally considered that more 

 power in the collar compensates for the deficiency in 

 action. The body of the typical Shire is of large girth, 

 deep and strongly coupled, with broad back. The quar- 

 ters are heavily muscled in the best type. Owing to their 

 weight, it is to be expected that some of them are subject 



