54 EVOLUTION OF BRITISH CATTLE 



cattle, with a smaller number of Longhorns and 

 Longhorn grades or crosses. Latterly, Short- 

 horns predominated. Consequently we must look 

 for variations in size as a result of crossing with 

 the imported stock. At the same time we must 

 look for several new colours in addition to the 

 original black. Mr. Forbes, the Aberdeenshire 

 farmer referred to, writes thus : " The cattle in 

 Buchan^ about half a century ago and earlier 

 might be said to have consisted of horned and 

 polled black cattle in about equal proportions. 

 The polled cattle were of two classes, one large 

 and another small. I knew the small kind well. 

 They were rather puny creatures, always thin 

 in flesh, and very badly used. They were pre- 

 eminently the crofter's cow, as they were able to 

 live through the winter on the straw of oats and 

 bere, and water, if necessary. Of the larger por- 

 tion of the cattle, about one-half were jet black, 

 excepting the udder, which was usually white. 

 They could not stand starvation so well as the 

 small polls, but with better treatment they gave 

 a heavier yield of milk. When creamed, how- 

 ever, their milk was thinner than that from the 

 small cows." * 



As to the colours of the Forfarshire polled 

 cattle, Youatt writes : ** The greater part of them 

 are black, or with a few white spots. The next 



* That is, East Aberdeenshire. 



* " History of Polled Aberdeen or Angus Cattle," p. 72. 



