PEMBROKESHIRE OR CASTLEMARTIN CATTLE. 197 



doubtful whether the aboriginal Bos primigenius was white ; " 

 and he also adds that certain facts which he enumerates show 

 "that there is a strong, though not invariable, tendency in wild 

 or escaped cattle, under widely different conditions of life, to 

 become white with coloured ears." There is a general belief in 

 Wales, as in England, that the old breed of the country was 

 white, and many specimens of this sort might have been seen 

 very recently in the Principality. Indeed, Low, who published 

 iis superbly illustrated book in 1842, selects as a specimen 

 of the wild or white forest breed a drawing of a " cow eight 

 years old from Haverfordwest, in the county of Pembroke." 

 Cattle of this kind are now very rare in Pembrokeshire. The 

 breed of the country is black, and known sometimes as the Castle- 

 martin, but now more generally as the Pembrokeshire, breed. 

 There can be little question of the great antiquity of this 

 breed. *' The Pembroke race in England," says Mr. Darwin, 

 *' closely resemble in essential structure £. jprimigenius, and, no 

 doubt, are its descendants." 



Youatt says, "Great Britain does not afford a more 

 useful animal than the Pembroke cow or ox." There is no 

 breed which for general usefulness can successfully compete 

 with the Pembrokeshire cattle in their native district, so 

 perfectly adapted are they to the climatic and physical charac- 

 teristics of the country, and to the system of farming generally 

 practised there. The country is hilly, and some of the best 

 pastures are greatly exposed to the storms of wind and rain 

 so frequent in the autumn and winter months. Farmyards 

 with sufficient accommodation for breeding and feeding, after 

 the English fashion, are extremely rare. The landlords are 

 somewhat to blame in this matter for not providing the farmer 

 with better accommodation for man and beast. As a set-off to 

 severe criticism of the landlords, it may be urged that the 

 system of agriculture practised in South-western Wale« is 

 generally such as does not demand very extensive outbuildings. 

 To the entreaties of a tenant who asked for cattle sheds, such 

 as were built on other farms on the estate, one landlord is 

 reported to have replied, "I'll build you a new barn and cart 

 house, John ; and when I see you grow turnips I will build you 

 a cattle shed." This answer appeared very pertinent to the 



