WORSTED BY THE SHORTHORN 107 



in this respect greatly inferior tovthe older Longhorns, and 

 are scarcely ever used for the purposes of the regular dairy." 



It is not to be wondered at that the improved Shorthorn 

 of the early days a first-rate general purpose animal 

 should supersede this incomplete product of Bakewell's art 

 of breeding. Bakewell's method weakened the constitution, 

 and led to the loss of lean flesh or muscle as well as to the 

 decline of the breeding and milking properties of cattle. 

 Being overdone, in his haste to secure refinement and uni- 

 formity, it led directly to the disfavour of the breed early 

 last century. 



The Longhorn was seriously worsted in competition for 

 public favour by its Shorthorn rival ; but, after it had been 

 driven from the richer parts of the country, except for a 

 limited number of good standard herds, by the more rapid 

 maturity, finer quality, animal, it lingered in the Fell districts 

 of the north-west of England into the latter half of the 

 nineteenth century. In the fifties, a wave of popular 

 enthusiasm for the Shorthorn led to the practical extinction, 

 within about ten years, of the Longhorn as a breed in that 

 district of country. The change was effected in part by 

 breeding the cows to Shorthorn bulls, and, as the progeny 

 practically became " pure by crossing," it was realised when 

 too late that in many respects the Longhorn was better 

 suited than the Shorthorn to the local conditions. The 

 author paid a visit to the district in 1905, and heard from 

 men who had seen the change accomplished, their acknowledg- 

 ment of the mistake. The local variety of the breed was 

 said to consist of splendid cattle for the Fell districts. Many 

 had the white ridge on the back and flesh-coloured noses, but 

 the prevailing colour was dark roan with black ticks through 

 it (brindled). The milk was rich, though not so abundant as 

 that of the Shorthorn. The beasts were extremely hardy, 

 and kept themselves fat in winter, going outside till snow fell. 

 The hair was curly, like that of a spaniel, and the horns were so 

 long that in entering a doorway the head had to be turned to 

 one side and one horn introduced before the other. [Marshall 

 states that the horns of the improved breed measured from 

 1 5 in. to 2 ft. for bulls, and from 2 J to 3 J ft. for oxen ; while 

 the cows' horns were nearly as long as those of the oxen, but 



