574 THE HOME, FARM AND BUSINESS CYCLOPAEDIA. 



iry, the fore-legs should be perfectly straight, and the hind-legs very 

 slightly bent forwards below the hook. All over the frame there should 

 be a rich and even coating of flesh. Even the hook-bones, and other pro- 

 minent parts, should be well covered ; and above all, there should be no 

 patchine.ss no hollows, and no rolls of hard flesh, with spaces of soft use- 

 less fat between them, such as are always found in a patchy animal. 

 Except in rare cases, the skin is fairly thick, but soft and pliable ; it 

 ought to be so free over the ribs, as that one could fill one's hand of it. 

 The hair is, as a rule, not long, but fairly thick and soft ; and in the best 

 animals shows two growths, or rather two lengths one short and thick 

 and the other longer and thinner. When walking, a good animal of the 

 breed presents a very compact, graceful, and symmetrical appearance. 

 Indeed it is fairly enough claimed for the breed that in these and some 

 other respects it has hardly any equals, and no supsriors. The above 

 description refers more correctly to bulls than to cows. The latter, of 

 course, differ considerably in character. The head is much finer, the neck 

 thinner and cleaner, with no crest; the shoulder-top sharper; the bone 

 altogether finer, the skin not quite so thick ; the udder large, and milk- 

 vessels large and well-defined. 



THE AYRSHIRE BREED. 



In Ayrshire, an adjacent portion of the Lothians, this had its origin. 

 At some period or other there has evidently been a cross of the Durham 

 or Holderness, and perhaps also of the Alderney, used in perfecting their 

 milking properties, and they have been established as a distinct breed for 

 over one hundred years. 



The following is from a report to the Ayrshire Agricultural Association, 

 and gives the " points " which indicate superior quality in the Ayrshire 

 dairy cows : 



" Head short, forehead wide, nose %ie between the muzzle and eyes, 

 muzzle moderately large, eyes full and lively, horns wide set on, inclining 

 upwards, and curving slightly inwards. 



" Neck long and straight from the head to the top of the shoulder ; free 

 from loose skin on the under side, fine at its junction with the head, and 

 the muscles symmetrically enlarging towards the shoulders 



" Shoulders thin at the top, brisket light, the whole fore-quarters thin 

 in front, and gradually increasing in depth and width backwards. 



" Back short and straight, spine well defined, especially at the shoulder, 

 the short ribs arched, the body deep at the flanks, and the milk veins 

 well developed. 



