386 Saddle and Sirloin. 



Thirty-four years have raised the Waterloo Cup 

 from a stake of 2 sovs. each for eight dogs, to one of 

 25 sovs. each for sixty-four, and " Dog Derby" books 

 are rife in the land. The three kingdoms had stuck 

 to Blue Gown for the previous Derby, with a loyalty 

 which no Rosicrucian declarations could quench, and 

 now Lord Lurgan's crack became their greyhound 

 idol, and to see him win at Altcar a second year was 

 their leading dream of the future. There were no 



when he died. Duchess 64th, the dam of Second Grand Duke, he did 

 not live to see, and she was the youngest of the eight which stood up 

 before Mr. Strafford. Her dam, Duchess 55th, has been a very 

 Barbelle in the herd world, as three of her produce were sold for 

 2300 guineas, and she was both the dam and the grandam of a thou- 

 sand-guinea bull. Mr. Bolden bought the first of the Kirklevington 

 eight, to wit Duchess 5 1st, dam of the Fourth Duke of York, for whom 

 Lord Ducie gave 200 guineas at the same sale, and sold after three 

 years' use to the Americans for 500 guineas. The salt water was fatal 

 to him, as he broke his neck in a storm ; but the change from the banks 

 of the stately Tees to "the gently curving lines of creamy spray," 

 that wash the Red Bank Farm, redeemed his dam from the curse 

 of barrenness, which had sunk her to 60 guineas. 



She bred three heifer-calves, the first of which, by Leonidas, died in 

 the birth, and the others were ushered into the yard at Springfield for us, 

 in the shape of two roan cows, Grand Duchess and Grand Duchess 2nd, 

 by Grand Duke. A noble pair they were. The eldest was a beautiful 

 specimen of a "toucher," silky hair on a nice elastic hide, with that 

 peculiarly dainty cellular tissue between the hide and flesh. The head 

 too had all the most favourite characteristics of the tribe, slightly dished 

 in the forehead, with a prominent nostril, and a -great general sweetness 

 of expression. They were also well down in the twist, and great 

 milkers, combined with heavy flesh. Grand Duchess 2nd bore a strong 

 family likeness to her sister, but she had more substance and gaiety of 

 carriage ; and she held up her head, as if right conscious of her 

 lineage. 



Three of the heifers were red with a few patches of white, and it was 

 curious to notice in their marks the exact resemblance to that original 

 Duchess, from whom thrice 183 guineas would hardly have separated 

 Mr. Bates at the Ketton sale. Coates's Herd Book has preserved to us 

 her picture, as she feeds on the Tyneside, with Halton Castle in the 

 distance. The white patch on the flanks and crop, the star on the 

 forehead, and the gay little beauty-spot just above the muzzle, are all 

 there ; and with the exception of Duchess 3rd, who is enrolled in the 

 Sibylline leaves of Shorthorn fate as "a light grey," there was no break 

 " " th was crossed with 



