54 BEEF CATTLE SHORTHORNS 



exceptions in polled breeds) and down the face, which should 

 be neither "dished" nor Roman, but short, or of medium 

 length, with a quiet expression ; forehead broad and full ; 

 muzzle broad, full, distinct, and dewy ; mouth large ; jaw 

 wide ; nostrils large ; eyes large, placid, and clear ; horns none, 

 or varying in length, colour, and strength, according to breed, 

 fine and symmetrical, set on the crest of the head ; ears full 

 and sensitive, of fine texture, well covered with hair, and 

 varying slightly in position in the different breeds. 



Neck medium length, full at the " neck-vein," or " shoulder- 

 vein," where it joins the body, broad (muscular and crested in 

 the male), but fine, and tapering towards the head to which 

 it should join without thickness or chokiness and straight 

 from the shoulder top to the roots of the horns, excepting 

 when it rises into the crest of a bull. 



Body long and deep, equally balanced before and behind ; 

 back broad throughout its length, smooth and even, and 

 straight from the top of the shoulders to the tail-head ; the 

 frame well and equally covered with firm flesh, especially in 

 the regions of the best cuts, not patchy on the hooks, tail-head, 

 rump, shoulders, or other parts (when prime fat, a little pit 

 may be felt on the point of each hook). The trunk, looked at 

 from any point, should resemble as nearly as possible a 

 parallelogram ; the under and upper lines straight and 

 parallel ; brisket projecting well forward, and wide, making 

 the fore-legs stand well apart ; loin thick and broad ; flank 

 full and deep, even with the underline ; fore-flank to corre- 

 spond, well filled ; tail thin, set on well back (but not too 

 high), and falling perpendicularly. 



Skin moderately thick (not papery), pliable, and mellow 

 or mossy to touch ; hair soft and abundant, covering all 

 parts well. 



Shoulders well covered with flesh and laid back over the 

 ribs, so that the natural depression behind them in the region 

 of the heart or girth line should not be too pronounced, broad, 

 and compact on top ; the shoulder blades adhering closely to 

 the trunk ; shoulder points fine, " snug," and well covered. 



Chest, viewed from before or from behind the shoulder, 

 full, wide, deep, and massive ; girth large ; crops full. 



The fore-arm and leg straight and short ; muscle large 

 and broad ; leg-bones dense and strong, though smooth, fine, 



