NOTES ON THE INHEEITANCE OF COLOUR AND 

 MARKINGS IN PEDIGREE HEREFORD CATTLE. 



By FRANCES PITT. 



(With Plates VII— X.) 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



1. Introduction 281 



2. The Typical Hereford 282 



3. Variations Studied 282 



I. Excessive White 283 



II. Extension of Pigment . . . . ... . 288 



III. Pigment Round the Eyes • . 290 



IV. Pigmented or " Dirty" Nose ...... 294 



V. Coat Colour 296 



4. Some Notes on the History and Probable Origin of the White Face 



in the Hereford Breed . 297 



5. Summary and Conclusion . . . . . . . . 299 



% 



1. Introduction. 



The following notes and observations on the inheritance of colour 

 and markings in pure-bred Hereford cattle are only published because, 

 as far as the writer is aware, no work has been done on the genetics of 

 this breed, and comparatively little on that of other kinds. These notes 

 are necessarily imperfect and incomplete, for cattle, on account of their 

 slow rate of increase, are bad subjects for the study of heredity, but 

 such facts as have been noted and are here given may serve to draw the 

 attention of other workers to a breed of which the genetics have hitherto 

 been neglected. 



The notes have chiefly been made on the pedigree Herefords belonging 

 to Mr W. J. Pitt, of Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Nearly every beast bred 

 for some years past has been photographed as a calf and the picture 

 placed in a herd book under that of its dam ; thus the produce of each 

 cow can be seen at a glance. This system keeps a trustworthy record. 



