NEAT OR HORNED CATTLE. 275 



others, only after the most thorough trial of superior fitness 

 for the particular location, in those proposed to be introduced. 

 More attention has been paid to the improvement of the vari- 

 ous breeds of cattle in England than in any other country; 

 and it is there they have attained the greatest perfection in 

 form and character, for the various purposes to which they 

 arc devoted. We have derived directly from Great Britain, 

 not only the parent stock from which nearly all our cattle arc 

 descended, but also most of those fresh importations, to which 

 we have looked for improvement on the present race of ani- 

 mals. A few choice Dutch cattle, generally black and white, 

 and of large size, good forms and good milkers, with a decided 

 tendency to fatten, have been occasionally introduced among 

 us, but not in numbers sufficient to keep up a distinct breed ; 

 and in the hands of their importers or immediate successors, 

 their peculiar characteristics have soon become merged in 

 those herds by which they were surrounded. Some few 

 French and Spanish cattle, the descendants of those remote 

 importations, made when the colonies of those kingdoms held 

 possession of our northern, western and southern frontiers, 

 still exist in those sections ; and although possessing no 

 claims to particular superiority, at least in any that have 

 come within our notice, yet they are so well acclimated, and 

 adapted to their various localities, as to render it inexpedient 

 to attempt supplanting them, except, with such as are par- 

 ticularly meritorious. 



NATI v r. < AT TLK. This is a favorite term with Americans, 

 an 1 comprehends every thing in the country excepting such 

 as are of a pure and distinct breed. It embraces some of the 

 best, some of the worst, and some of almost every variety, 

 shape, color and character of the Bovine race. The desig- 

 nation has no farther meaning, than that they are indigenous 

 to the soil, and do not belong to any well defined or distinct 

 variety. The best, native cattle of the Union, are undoubtedly 

 to \)a tbiiiul in the north-eastern states. Most of the early 

 emigrant cattle in that section, were from the southern part 

 of England, where the Devon cattle abound, and though not 

 bearing a close resemblance to that breed, unless it has been 

 impressed upon them by more recent importations ; yet a 

 large number have that general approximation in character, 

 features and color, which entitles them to claim a near kin- 

 dred with one of the choicest cultivated breeds. They have 

 the same symmetry, but not in general the excessive delicacy 



