44 A HISTORY OF HEREFORD CATTLE 



in 1814 Samuel sold 16 breeding cows for an average 

 of 51/6s., the best one bringing 100. So many of 

 the modern Herefords trace back to Tully founda- 

 tions that it is safe to rank that stock as one of the 

 important links connecting the known history of 

 the breed with the misty past. 



There is little of record concerning the once 

 famous herd of Mr. Skyrme of Stretton. It is said 

 to have been somewhat paler in the shade of red 

 shown than any of its contemporaries, and as it 

 supplied the foundation for many tribes afterwards 

 utilized in forming the breed as known to us, it is 

 probable that the "yellow red" still occasionally 

 seen, comes in part at least from that source. The 

 Tomkins cattle were of the darker red and the 

 Tullys more or less of a mingled red with white, 

 giving rise later on to the Downton Castle "greys/' 



The Haywoods of Clifton and the Teme, "Wor- 

 cestershire, had been noted for generations for the 

 excellence of their cattle, and in 1800 Samuel of 

 that name bred a bull called Prize Fighter that was 

 pitted against one shown by a Mr. Nailes of Leices- 

 tershire (breed not stated) on a wager of 100 

 guineas and the Hereford won. Paintings in the 

 possession of the Haywoods show this noted bull 

 and also prize bullocks sired by him. One of the 

 latter (mottle-faced) won first at Smithfield in 1816 

 and was called "faultless." It was from the Hay- 

 woods that the Jeffries, afterwards celebrated 

 breeders, obtained their original stock. 

 Disinterested Praise. Toward the close of the 



