EARLY HISTORY AND TYPICAL BREEDS OF CATTLE. 609 



They are described as having been straight and broad in the back, and 

 nearly level from the head to the rump ; round in the ribs, and also, 

 between, the shoulders and ribs, and the ribs and loins. The loins were 

 broad, and without large projecting hip (hook) bones. In the early 

 part of the century they were described b'- the Eev. Mr. Smith, author of 

 a "Survey of Galloway," as being short the leg, and moderately fine in 

 the shank bones — the happy medium preserved in the leg, which secures 

 hardihood and disposition to fatten. With the sam^ cleanness and short- 

 ness of shanks, there was no breed so large and muscular above the knee. 

 Clean, not fine and slender, but well proportioned in the neck and chaps; 

 broad shoulders, deep chest, and close, compact form. The neck of the 

 Galloway bull was, and still is, thick almost to a fault. The head rather 

 heavy ; the eyes not prominent, and the ears large, rough, and full of long 

 hairs on the inside. The Galloway was covered with a loose mellow skin of 

 medium thickness, clothed with long, soft, silky hair. The skin is thinner 

 than that of the Leicestershire, but not so fine as the hide of the Short- 

 Horn, but handling soft and kindly. The prevailing and fashionable 

 color was black- -a few dark brindle-brown, and still fewer speckled with 

 white spots, and some jf them a dun or drab color. Dark colors were, 

 and are yet, uniformly preferred,, from the belief that they indicate 

 hardiness of constitution. 



WEST IIIGHLAND FEEDING OX. 



Highland Cattle. — The West Highland cattle are an ancient breed and 

 are found in all the mountain regions of Scotland and the Isles. Their 

 gj-eat value consists in the eminent superiority of their flesh. They are 

 hardy, and easily fed ; in that they will live, and sometimes thrive, on 

 the coarsest pastures • that they will frequently gain from a fourth to Jk 



