SHORTHOIIX HERDS OF ENGLAND. 423 



the head of the herd, his massive frame, well sprung ribs and broad 

 back, cannot but draw admiration from any admirer of a good 

 shorthorn. 



The late Mr. Raymond S. Bruere attached special value to the 

 Vesper tribe, and although he has departed this life, the favour with 

 which they were regarded by their former owner, is still extended 

 to them by Mr. Alfred Ashworth, whose trio of females in the choice 

 bit of "turf" behind his pretty residence, Tabley Grange, are a 

 source of much pleasure to their breeder, who it may be added] was 

 an intimate friend of the late Mr. Bruere, from whom he obtained 

 Serene Star, by Booth's Royal Signet 28061, as a calf in 1874. Mr. 

 Ashworth has been connected with -shorthorns since 1868, but foot 

 and mouth, followed by a long run of male produce, has prevented 

 the herd from multiplying, and in addition to the Vesper trio 

 since changed into a " quartette " there are but a couple of Georgies 

 and Dandy Girl, a fine dairy shorthorn, owning Mr. Aylmer's Royal 

 Victor 35414 for sire. The Georgies comprise Veracity, a daughter 

 of Baron Aylesby 39397 who was out of Mr. Torr's Bright Lady 

 and Verity, from Vacillation, bred at Killerby, in addition to her 

 promising yearling heifer. 



More than usual interest attaches to a celebrated tribe when it 

 comes entirely under the control of one individual, and especially 

 must this be felt when with the exception of Mr. Darby's Twinkling 

 Star, the whole of the females which trace through Mr Bruere's 

 hands in whose possession they were for nearly fifty years now 

 belong to Mr. Ashworth, as no return of the produce of Statira, and 

 Stella, sold at Milbeckstock on their importation from Canada, has 

 since been made to Coates', it is doubtful if any exist. Mr. Bruere 

 in his school days used to visit Mr. Richard Booth, at Studley, and 

 there, as mentioned in " Saddle and Sirloin," his youthful heart was 

 stolen by the "buxom matrons," indeed so badly was he affected 

 that when visiting relations at Ripon, before joining his regiment in 

 India, for which his outfit had been provided, he attended a sale in 

 tli at neighbourhood and purchased Vesper then a doubtful breeder 

 for .30, and afterwards settled at Middleham, causing great 



