46 DOSfESTIC ANIMALS. [Chap. 1. 



rical, handsome form, but not quite as much so as the Durham, which was 

 made up, it is gencrall}' su])i)osed, by a cross of the Dutch brood upon tlie 

 Tfcswater stock. The Dutch cow is not as heavy an animal as the improved 

 Durham, but she is more highly esteemed for dairy purposes. 



TiL*. The Hereford ("ow. — ''The Hereford cattle derive their name from a 

 county in the western part of England. Their general characteristics are a 

 white face, sometimes mottled; white throat, the white generally extending 

 back on the neck, and sometimes, though rarely, still farther along on the 

 back. The color of tlie rest of tlie body is red, generally dark, but some- 

 times light. Eighty years ago the best Hereford cattle were mottled or 

 roan all over; and some of the best herds, down to a comparatively recent 

 period, were either all mottled, or had the mottled or speckled face. The 

 exj)rcssion of the face is mild and lively; the forehead open, broad, and 

 large ; the eyes bright and full of vivacity ; the horns glossy, slender, and 

 spreading ; the head small, though larger and not quite so clean as that of 

 the Devons ; the lower jaw fine ; neck long and slender ; chest deep ; breast- 

 bone large, prominent, and'very muscular ; the shoulder-blade light ; shoulder 

 full and soft; brisket and loins large; liips well developed, and on a level 

 with the cliine ; hind quarters long and well filled in ; buttocks on a level 

 witli the back, neither falling off nor raised above the hind quarters ; tail 

 slender, well set on ; hair fine and soft ; body round and full ; carcass deep 

 and well formed, or cylindrical ; bone small ; thigh short and well made ; 

 legs short and straight, and slender below the knee; as handlers very excel- 

 lent, especially mellow to the touch on the back, the shoulder, and along the 

 sides, the skin being soft, flexible, of medium thickness, rolling on the neck 

 and the hips ; hair bright ; face almost bare, whicii is characteristic of pure- 

 bred Ilerefords. They belong to tlie middle-horned division of the cattle 

 of Great Britain, to which they are indigenous." 



There are individual good milkers among the Herefords, as there are 

 among the Durhams, but like them, we must say they are better for beef 

 than milk. "We certainly never should select the Hereford breed for dairy 

 purposes. The form of the cow, as represented among the specimens we 

 have seen of the best herds in this country, is that of a beef-producing ani- 

 mal, or a breed for good working oxen, for which it is noted. 



53. The Devon fow. — "This beautiful race of cattle dates farther back 

 than any well-established breed among us. It goes generally under the 

 simple name of Devon ; but the cattle of the southern part of the county, 

 from which the race derives its name, differ somewhat from those of the 

 northern, having a larger and coarser frame, and far less tendency to fatten, 

 tliougli their dairy qualities are superior. 



"The North Devons are remarkable for hardihood, symmetry, and beauty, 

 and are generally bred for work and for beef rather than for the dairy. 

 The head is fine and well set on ; the horns of medium length, generally 

 curved ; color usually bright blood-red, -but sometimes inclining to yellow ; 

 skin thin and orange-yellow ; hair of medium length, soft, and silky, making 



