No. 7. 



Porter. 



217 



PORTER, 



The property of Morris Longstreth, Esq., Valley-Greeru- 



■ Calved May 20, 1838. 



The above is an excellent portrait of the Devon bull, " Porter," which obtained the first 

 premium at the late Philadelphia Agricultural Society's annual exhibition. Amongst those 

 who recognized in this animal the distinguishing features of that favourite breed of British 

 cattle, permission is given to name Professor Pattison, and William Peter, Esq., British con- 

 sul ; the latter gentleman declaring him to be the most perfect specimen of the Devons that 

 he had seen in this country, and equal to any he had observed in the extensive herds of Mr. 

 Coke of Norfolk, adding, " an animal like that, would not be permitted to leave England." 



The character of the Devon cattle still stands pre-eminent in England, as a distinct breed. 

 From them, it is said, the Herefords, Gloucester Reds, and Sussex cattle are derived ; and 

 although they have given much in the way of improving other breeds, no one has yet be- 

 lieved that they could receive aught in return. Who has ever heard of the improved Devons 1 



Lord Somerville, an excellent judge, and a native and resident of the county in which 

 these cattle are bred, gives the following description of them — not as they might be in 

 some imaginary animals, but as they are really found. He observes ; " while speaking of 

 this breed of cattle, conclusions must not be drawn from the shape and size of all the bulls, 

 but from the general quality of the stock; for certain it is, that, individually, handsomer bulls 

 are to be found in other breeds ; but it is as certain that this race, of which the whole pro- 

 duce is brought to view (no calves being slaughtered), stands the confessed favourite, or 

 amongst the very first in Smithfield, where prejudice cannot find the way. And in forming 

 an estimate of merit or demerit, the annual produce is to be the object attended to ; and 

 this in oxen, which, for superiority of beef, activity in labour beyond all competition, and 

 what, in horses, is termed blood, will be found a true criterion to judge of the bulls which 

 begat them. Generally speaking, the bulls are, relatively to oxen, not of large size; and, in 

 respect of throat, they are sometimes reproached with being throaty, ox with the skin too 

 profuse and pendulous ; the curled hair, too, giving an apparent coarseness to the head, not 

 to be found in some other breeds, when carefully trimmed with the scissors ; the neck, per- 

 haps, thick and gory, in the estimation of strangers, but with which property the oxen of 

 this breed are not to be reproached, or they could not labour as they do. The bosom is 

 wide in form, and mellow in handling ; the legs like straight pillars, to support a great 

 burthen; the skin rising easily from the ribs, mellow, and elastic; the hind-quarters long, 

 and well filled ; the setting on of the tail high, long, small, and with a round bunch of hair 

 at the end. Those with curled hair are deemed excellent provers ; and a glossy, mahogany 

 skin, with curls like the ripples formed by the wind on a mill-pond, is in the highest esteem : 

 It is very rarely that one is found with a hard, or wiry skin. They are grazed fat in six or 

 eight months, to the average weight of forty-five score. As a distinct breed, their claim to 

 antiquity, purity of blood, high form, and extensive utility, has never been disputed ; and, 

 for a century past, they have commanded the best price in Smithfield market." 



