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(b) Highest and Lowest Daily Increases. 



THE DEVON. 



General Appearance of the Breed. The Devons,* (sometimes 

 spoken of as " North Devons " to distinguish them from the 

 South Devons) the " Red Rubies " of the west, spring from 

 a hilly region of limited area in the north of Devonshire. Like 

 the Aberdeen-Angus they are almost perfect in symmetry, and 

 produce beef of the finest quality. While nearly related to 

 the Hereford they more strongly resemble the Sussex cattle, 

 and might even pass for a small variety of that breed, though the 

 general colour is a brighter shade of dark cherry-red. The whole- 

 red colour of the hair is frequently varied by distinct dappled 

 markings ; the skin is generally orange-yellow, but inside the ears 

 orange-red. The characteristic pigment is conspicuous round the 

 eyes and muzzle. The horns of the female are medium in length 

 and elegant in their outward and upward sweep, creamy-white, 

 sharp-tipped, and black-pointed. The horns of the bull, as in the 

 related breeds, are thicker, straighter, and less elevated. 



Origin. The origin of the breed is lost in obscurity, but it is 

 undoubtedly very ancient, probably going back in part to the 

 primeval cattle of this country mated with one or more of the 

 Breeds historically accredited as progenitors. Devon cattle in 

 George Culley's time (1794) were of a high-red colour with a light, 

 dun ring round the eye and muzzle, which was again recorded in 

 1810. The breed was early noted for hardiness and activity and 

 the bullocks for special adaptability as work animals. 



Early Breeders. Francis Quartly, of Great Champson, was 

 the Colling of the Devon breed. During a period of thirty 

 years' depression, prior to 1823, " he determined to buy quietly all 

 the good stock" he could find. He continued this practice in 

 addition to that of in-and-in breeding to " improve his stock, till he 

 brought it to perfection" and made the Champson herd the 

 fountain head of the breed. Among many good local breeders, 

 William Davy, at Flitton, and Merson, at Brinsworthy, deserve 

 special mention ; outside the county the Holkham herd (established 



* See History of the Devon Breed of Cattle, by James Sinclair. 

 Tinton & Co., Ltd., 1893. 



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