SHORTHORNS. 105 



being set square upon them ; the thighs meet low down, forming 

 the full and deep twist'; the flank should be deep, so as partially 

 to cover the udder, which should be not too large, but placed 

 forward, the teats being well formed and square-set, and of a 

 medium size ; the hind legs should be very short and stand wide 

 and quite straight to the ground. The general appearance should 

 show even outlines. The whole body is covered with long, soft 

 hair, there frequently being a fine undercoat ; and this hair is 

 of the most pleasing variety of colour, from a soft, creamy white 

 to a full deep red. Occasionally the animal is red and white ; 

 the white being found principally on the forehead, underneath 

 the belly, and a few spots on the hind quarters and legs ; in 

 another group the body is nearly white, with the neck and head 

 partially covered with roan ; whilst in a third type the entire body 

 is most beautifully variegated ; of a rich deep purple or plum- 

 coloured hue. On touching the beef points, the skin is found 

 to be soft aud mellow, as if lying on a soft cushion. In animals 

 thin in condition a kind of inner skin is felt, which is the 

 "quality" or "handling" indicative of the great fattening 

 propensities for which the breed is so famous. 



The Ketton herd was of this character; the knuckles, or 

 shoulder points, however, were rather strong and somewhat 

 more upright than in some modern herds. The red colour of 

 some of the early cattle had a yellow tinge, and this hue may 

 still occasionally be seen. Some of the early breeders sought 

 to remedy those defects which were thought to exist in the Ketton 

 stock; although the public approval, as shown by the 151?. 

 average, and the 1000 guineas for the six-year-old bull Comet 

 (155), testifies to their general merit. Mr. C. Mason, of 

 Chilton, Durham, improved the shoulders of the cattle in 

 his herd, although, perhaps, at some sacrifice of the hind- 

 quarters; and Sir Chas. Knightly, in more recent years, was 

 very persistent in his endeavours to improve the formation of 

 the fore-quarters of the animals from which he bred. During 

 the last quarter of a century, fashion has run high, and there 

 has been a constant adherence on the part of most breeders to 

 some particular strain of blood ; until different types have been 

 produced within the same breed. In some strains, style and 

 elegance have been mainly aimed at; the beautiful head is 



