148 AT THE SIGN OF THE STOCK YARD INN 



(11663), then in his eighth year, which he offered 

 to sell at a nominal price. After first examining 

 the herds of MARK STEWART, S. E. BOLDEN, RICHARD 

 BOOTH, Gol. TOWNELEY and Messrs. BUDDING without 

 success, Mr. GRUICKSHANK wrote to WILKINSON that 

 he might ship Lancaster Comet. He was forwarded 

 to Sittyton in November, 1858. Mr. GRUICKSHANK 

 went to the station to meet the bull, and his first 

 glimpse of "his great head and horns lowering upon 

 him over the side of the truck" caused him to turn 

 away in disappointment. Lancaster Comet had a 

 large head, with horns of great length. They were 

 well enough set onto the head and curved toward 

 the front. They were not very thick nor were they 

 pointed at the tips, being more uniform in thickness 

 from base to point than is ordinarily observed. One 

 sarcastic neighbor, of the type often present upon 

 such occasions, remarked: "If he wanted a High- 

 land bull he might have got one nearer home." 

 Notwithstanding the horns, however, Lancaster 

 Comet was a good bull. He stood near to the 

 ground, had a beautiful coat of hair, a round barrel, 

 straight top and bottom lines, level quarters, nicely 

 filled thighs, carried plenty of flesh and was active 

 on his feet. In size he was about medium. He 

 had been a great favorite with Mr. WILKINSON and 



