148 THE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



affinity between the two breeds, yet many of the female polls 

 very nearly approach the Devon type in their sweet deer-like 

 heads and general thoroughbred appearance. 



The vast improvement which has taken place in the polled 

 breed is probably owing, in no small degree, to the liberal prize 

 list of the Norfolk Agricultural Society, supplemented, as it is, 

 by the cups and gifts of private donors. So recently as ten 

 years ago Lord Sondes was almost the only Norfolk exhibitor, 

 Mr. Badham doing battle for the sister county. Now there 

 is no lack of competition ; of late the chief prizes have gone to 

 tenant farmers. 



The Eoyal Agricultural Society of England at the great 

 Battersea show of 1862, accorded a separate class to the 

 polls. Previously to that date, they had been relegated to 

 that heterogeneous collection — the class for " other established 

 breeds." In response to a memorial from the breeders, 

 separate classes were granted at Oxford and Wolverhampton. 

 On each occasion the breed was so creditably represented, 

 that it may be hoped a similar concession will be made when- 

 ever the show is held within reasonable distance of the eastern 

 district. 



Cows and heifers for dairy purposes have been sold from the 

 Elmham herd to buyers in the counties of Beds, Berks, Bucks, 

 Chester, Hants, Northampton, and Sussex ; whilst exportations 

 of breeding stock have been made to Egypt, Germany (north 

 and south), and Austria, where, strange to say, on an estate of 

 Prince Leichtenstein, a breed of red polled cattle has been in 

 existence from time immemorial. Also during the last two 

 years a few cattle have been sent to the United States, and 

 there are orders on hand at present from the same quarter. 



This breed is now known as Eed Polled, having from its 

 remarkable revival and distribution to every part of the United 

 Kingdom, fairly earned a name apart from locality. Forty 

 years ago the breed was very nearly extinct, whilst at the present 

 time pedigrees of 1110 bulls and 3842 cows are recorded in the 

 Red Polled Herd Book, which was started in 1874. It is a 

 matter for regret that a few breeders are so lazy and blind to 

 their own interests, as not to take advantage of this most useful 

 publication. 



