SECRETARY'S REPORT. 113 



their food. The weight of the body rests on the hind-quarters, 

 and these become stronger and more prominent. The head is 

 shorter, the horns stand out more to the sides, the neck grows 

 shorter and thicker as the result of less stretching forward, the 

 cow generally feeding up the mountain side. This may 

 appear a little far-fetched, yet there can be no doubt that loca- 

 tion, climate, and soil, operating for generations on the animal 

 structure, produce very striking modifications. 



The finest types of the highland races of the continent are, 

 no doubt, to be found in Switzerland. They are not only 

 remarkable in many respects for the most excellent qualities, 

 but have had for many years a widely extended influence in 

 forming most of the more local breeds in various parts of Ger- 

 many. The Swiss or mountain cattle are by no means uni- 

 form. There are as many different breeds as are to be found 

 among the marsh races. 



First among them may be named the Bernese, natives of the 

 cantons of Berne and Freyburg. Those on the show-groinids 

 are fine specimens, pretty as pictures, but they looked as if they 

 longed to be away, straying over their mountain pastures and 

 through the rich valleys where they might breathe the air of 

 freedom. These creatures are generally red-brown And white, 

 often black variegated. Sometimes we see one nearly all red, 

 and then another nearly all black. In the valle/s, where they 

 are often stall-fed, they are very large and heav/, the frame fre- 

 quently round and full, the head and skin thi^k, the hair hard, 

 the hind-quarters large and the root of t'le tail set high up. 

 Those that are prettily and finely marked are much sought after 

 when they are up to the standard in form and do not become 

 coarse in structure ; and with food and keeping sufficiently good 

 they yield a satisfactory return. Tl^e oxen are not especially 

 adapted either for work or the shambles. As a general rule, 

 they are not the most profitable for ordinary farms, though 

 they strike the fancy and are well adapted for speculation. 

 They sell well to drive out ol the country. Still, if selected 

 properly, avoiding oversized and overfed animals, there is 

 no doubt that beauty and utility might be found combined. 

 They throw large and bearttiful calves, which sell well. I saw 

 many of these fine animals in their native valleys and along 

 their accustomed mountain walks. They are common in. 



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