234 



POINTS OP EXCELLENCE IN CATTLE. 



development, and the ample room thus afforded for 

 the free action of the heart and lungs. 



5. The Brisket — However deep or projecting, 

 must not be confounded with capacity of chest; for 

 though a very attractive and selling point, it, in real- 

 ity, adds nothing to the space within, however it may 

 increase the girth without. It is, in fact, nothing 

 more or less than a muscular, adipose substance, at- 

 tached to the anterior portion of the sternum, or 

 breast^bone, and thence extending itself back. This 

 form, however, of the brisket, indicates a disposition 

 to lay on fat generally throughout the frame, and in 

 this point of view is valuable. 



4. The Shoulder — where weight, as in the Short- 

 Horn, is the object, should be somewhat upright and 

 of a good width at the points, with the blade bone 

 just sufficiently curved to blend its upper portion 

 smoothly with the crops. 



8. The Crops — must be full and level with the 

 shoulders and back, and it is, perhaps, one of the 

 most difficult points to breed right in the Short- 

 Horn. 



8. The Back, Loin, and Hips — should be broad 

 and wide, forming a straight and even line from the 

 nack to the setting ou of the tail ; the hips, or bucks, 

 round and well covered. 



5. The Rumps — laid up high, with plenty of flesh 

 on their extremities. 



2. The Pelvis — should be large, indicated by the 

 width of the hips (as already mentioned) and the 

 breadth of the twist 



3. The Twist — should be well filled out in its 

 " seam " as to form nearly an even and wide plain 

 between the thighs. 



5. The (Quarters — long, straight, and well devel- 

 oped downwards. 



4. The Carcass — round, the ribs nearly circular, 

 and e.\tending well back. 



3. The Flanks — deep, wide, and full in proportion 

 to condition. 



2. The Leg — short, straight, and standing square 

 with the body. 



3. The Plates — of the belly strong, and thus pre- 

 serving nearly a straight under line. 



2. The Tail — flat and broad at its root, but fine 

 in its cord, and placed high up, and on a level with 

 rumps. 



2. The Carriage — of an animal gives style and 

 beauty; the walk should be square and the step 

 quick, the head up. 



15. quality.— Oa this the thriftines?, the feeding 

 properties, and the value of the animal depend, and 



upon the touch of this quality rests in a good meas 

 ure the graziers' and the butchers' judgment. If th 

 " touch " be good, some deficiency of form may bi 

 excused; but if it be hard and stiff, nothing can con: 

 pensate for so unpromising a feature. In raising th 

 skin from the body between the thumb and finger, 

 should have a soft, flexible, and substantial feel, an 

 when beneath the outspread hand it should mov 

 easily with it and under it, as though resting on 

 soft, elastic, cellular substance; which, however, b' 

 comes firmer as the animal " ripens." A thin, papei 

 skin is objectionable, more especially in a cold cl 

 mate. 



2. The Coat — should be thick, short, and moss, 

 with longer hair in winter; fine, soft, and glo.ssy 

 summer. 



3. The Udder — pliable and thin in its textui 

 reaching well forward, roomy behind, and the tea 

 standing wide apart, and of convenient size. 



Points of the Short-Horn Bull. — As regar 

 the male animal, it is only necessary to remark th 

 the points desirable in the female are generally so 

 the male, but must, of course, be attended by th 

 masculine character which is inseparable from 

 strong, vigorous constitution. Even a certain degi 

 of coarseness is admissible, but then it must be 

 e.xclusively of a masculine description as never to 

 discovered in the females of his get. 



In contra-distinction to the cow, the head of ' 

 bull may be shorter, the frontal bone broader, £ 

 the occipital flat and stronger, that it may rece 

 and sustain the horn — and this latter may be excu; 

 if a little heavy at the base, so its upward form, 

 quality, and color be right. Neither is the looser 

 of the skin attached to and depending from the un 

 jaw to be deemed other than a feature of the i 

 provided it is not extended beyond the bone, 

 leaves the gullet and tb'oat clean and free from do 

 lap. 



The upper portion of the neck should be full t 

 muscular, for it is an indication of strength, pov 

 and constitution. The spine should be strong, 

 bones of the loin long and broad, and the wb 

 muscular system wide and thoroughly developed o 

 the entire frame. 



North Dkvo.ns. — Purity of blood, as traced b 

 sitisfactorily to importations of both dam and 

 from known English breeders, or as found in 

 lately established Herd Book for North Devons; : 

 without this, an animal cannot compete in this cl 



4. The Head — should be small, lean, and be 

 the forehead wide, flat, or from a fulness of the fi 



