PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING. 177 



traces directly to the thorough-bred, is not yet recognized 

 as a distinct breed, though it is better known here than 

 are those of the pure breeds. 



Pony Breeds. These consist of the Shetland, 

 Welsh, Exmoor, Mexican, and Indian, each possessing 

 special characters, form, and habits. 



Breeds of Cattle. These are usually classified as 

 dairy and beef breeds, though many are regarded as pos- 

 sessing both dairy and beef qualities in a marked degree. 



Dairy Breeds. These may be further classified as 

 butter and milk breeds. Chief among the butter breeds 

 are the Jersey and Guernsey, natives of the Channel 

 Islands of the same name situated near the north-west 

 coast of France. 



Jersey. This breed is the most noted of all the dairy 

 breeds, both for its general elegance of proportion and 

 appearance and for its excellent qualities. For butter- 

 making it is not excelled. It has been brought to its 

 present perfection by very careful methods of breeding, 

 in which one idea, viz., butter, is constantly followed. 

 It is small, and possesses a rather delicate constitution, 

 and is thus not adapted to rigorous conditions of climate 

 and careless handling. 



Guernsey. The Guernsey is not so general a favor- 

 ite as the Jersey; it is larger and coarser, though the 

 texture of its skin is extremely delicate. It is dis- 

 tinctly a dairy breed, and is a much deeper milker than 

 the Jersey; the butter product is also richer in color 

 and of better texture. A crossing of the Jersey or 

 Guernsey upon our common stock is extremely useful in 

 improving their butter qualities. 



