THE LONGHORNS. 135 



herds remaining in this country and in the Irish imports, un- 

 mistakably of Longhorn origin, of which more anon) ; neck thin, 

 head fine but long and tapering, eye large, bright, and prominent. 

 The horns vary with the sex ; those of bulls comparatively short, 

 from 15in. to 2ft. The oxen extremely large, from 2^ft. to 3|ft. 

 Cows nearly as long, but fine and more tapering. Most of the 

 horns hang downward by the side of the cheeks, and then if 

 well turned, as in many of the cows, shoot forsvard at the point ; 

 the shoulders fine, thin, and well placed — this was particularly 

 noticeable in the Dishley herd — girth small, as compared with 

 Shorthorn and Middlehorn breeds ; the chine remarkably full 

 when fat, but hollow when low in condition ; loin broad, and 

 hips wide and protuberant, the quarter long and level, fleshy 

 thighs, with small clean, but comparatively long legs ; carcase 

 round, and ribs well sprung, flesh of good quality, hide of 

 medium thickness, and colour various — the brindle, the finch- 

 back, and the pye most common. As grazier's stock, they un- 

 doubtedly rank high : the bone and offal small, and the f orend light, 

 while the chine, the loin, the rump, and the ribs are heavily loaded, 

 and with flesh of the finest quality. In point of early maturity 

 they have also materially gained ; in general they have gained a 

 year in preparation for the butcher." Such was the character of 

 the improved Longhorn as established by these leading breeders. 

 With such excellence, how is it they so soon disappeared from 

 this prominent position ? Possibly those who followed were 

 not able to maintain the character and quality of the stock ; 

 but more probably the increasing popularity of the Durham or 

 Shorthorns caused them to be shelved ; and it is a noteworthy 

 fact that, at the present day, as far as we know, Leicestershire 

 does not possess more than one herd of the old sort, whereas in 

 their original homes, viz., in "Westmoreland, Lancashire, and 

 Yorkshire, the Shorthorn is dominant. In Ireland the Longhorn 

 influence was undoubted ; whether this was due to importation 

 of English cattle, or vice versa, we are unable to say, as records 

 are wanting. Anyhow, they were at one period the prevailing 

 breed in a large portion of Munster ; and we can trace their 

 influence in the cattle from that district to this day. Shorthorns, 

 however, are rapidly becoming predominant through the length 

 and breadth of the Emerald Isle, and to them is due in great 



