LECTURE NO. 40. 



DEVON CATTLE THEIR ORIGIN AND HISTORY. 



I. The Devons are one of the most ancient 

 and pure of the distinct breeds of cattle found in 

 Great Britain. 



(1) They belong to the middle horned class, and are sup- 

 posed to be descended from the same aboriginal breed as the 

 Herefords and the Sussex. 



(2) The most ancient records tend to show that they have 

 been bred without admixture from time immemorial, in parts 

 of Devonshire and Somerset. 



II. They now occupy, with little exception, 

 the whole of the district from Dartmoor forest to 

 the Bristol channel, and from West Somerset to 

 Cornwall. 



(1) Good herds of the breed were established early in the 

 century in the shires of Leicester, Gloucester and Shropshire, 

 and in some other parts of England. 



(2) Individual herds have also been established at various 

 other points in England and in Ireland, but not to the extent 

 of becoming the prevailing breed, and 



(3) Where they were supplanted for a time in the south 

 of England by other breeds, as Shorthorns and Herefords, 

 they are again regaining the ground lost. 



III. Of all the British breeds they had the 

 greatest reputation as grazers a century ago, hence 



(1) The precedence given them in the prize lists of the 

 Smithfield Cattle Club, and of the Bath and West of England 

 Society. 



(2) At that time the North Devon was considered the 

 breed par excellence for small bones and high quality. 



(3) They were also very popular as oxen, owing to their 

 activity, combined with their staying powers. 



IV. It cannot be said that the name of any 

 one person stands out supremely conspicuous as the 

 great improver of Devons, as improvement was 



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