72 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



stock for a breeding herd, and had been espe- 

 cially attracted by a roan heifer of the Duchess 

 blood shown upon this occasion by Charles Col- 

 ling. He doubtless knew by hearsay of the ex- 

 cellence of the original Stan wick cow of that 

 name already referred to, and his good opinion 

 of this particular roan heifer was heightened 

 by the fact that he "thrice met Mr. Thompson, 

 a well-known judge of stock from Northum- 

 berland," by her side during the day. 



The Durham Ox was got by Favorite (252) 

 out of a common black-and-white cow bought 

 at Durham Fair; but, like his sire, the steer was 

 roan, a fact of interest, in connection with the 

 bullock's wonderful character, as foreshadow- 

 ing the prepotency of sires representing a 

 strong concentration of blood. Among other 

 remarks heard by Mr. Bates from those who 

 were discussing the great steer was one to the 

 effect that the most perfect animals likely to be 

 bred in the ensuing years would be those sired 

 by Favorite out of Hubback cows. This thought, 

 it is said, took deep root in the young man's 

 mind and governed him largely in his subse- 

 quent choice of breeding stock. 



Original investments. On May day, 1800, 

 Bates took possession of the Halton Castle Farm. 

 In March of that year he had bought hi first 

 Short-horn. It does not appear, however, as if 

 he had at that time made up his mind fully as 



