PREFACE. 



IT was very wisely determined by our ancestors to import repre- 

 sentatives of the improved races of cattle already existing in Great 

 Britain, as the foundation of our improved breeding, rather than 

 attempt to form improved types for ourselves. And it has become 

 American Shorn-horn usage to deny the claim of purity to any 

 stock not descended from imported ancestry. There has very natu- 

 rally arisen a loud call for a complete and handy list of all animals 

 that have been imported, in order that breeders may have a ready 

 means of learning the history and origin of the various tribes that 

 constitute our herds, and to serve as a check against fraud and 

 forgery. The present volume has been prepared at the cost of much 

 labor, in the effort to meet this demand. 



This catalogue professes to include the names and pedigrees, so 

 far as still extant, of all Short-horn cattle that were imported into 

 America up to the end of the year 1882. Although a large propor- 

 tion of those imported in 1883 and the early months of 1884 have 

 been included also, no claim of completeness is made in regard 

 to them. Even during the period up to 1882 no doubt entire 

 completeness and accuracy has not been obtained. It has proved 

 impossible to obtain the details concerning certain importations ; 

 concerning others, the information that has been obtained is frag- 

 mentary ; no doubt concerning others it may be erroneous. Petty 

 errors have probably been unavoidable. Pains have not been spared, 

 however, to present in all cases the fullest and most exact and most 

 authentic information that could be obtained ; and I shall be sur- 

 prised to find that any considerable omissions have occurred or 

 serious errors have been fallen into. I need not say that correc- 

 tions and additions of all kinds will be most gratefully received, and 

 made public ; and breeders are earnestly urged to communicate to 

 me all such criticisms as may tend to perfect the Second Edition. 



