136 PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING. 



The North Devons are deemed to be of longer stand- 

 ing than any other of the distinct breeds of England, 

 and they have been esteemed for their good qualities 

 for several centuries. Mr. George Turner, a noted 

 breeder of Devons, describes them as follows : — " Their 

 color is generally a bright red, but varying a little either 

 darker or more yellow ; they have seldom any white 

 except about the udder of the cow or belly of the bull, 

 and this is but little seen. They have long yellowish 

 horns, beautifully and gracefully curved, noses or muz- 

 zles white, with expanded nostrils, eyes full and promi- 

 nent, but calm, ears of moderate size and yellowish 

 inside, necks rather long, with but little dewlap, and 

 the head well set on, shoulders oblique with small 

 points or marrow bones, legs small and straight and 

 feet in proportion. The chest is of moderate width, 

 and the ribs round and well expanded, except in some 

 instances, where too great attention has been paid to 

 the hind quarters at the expense of the fore, and which 

 has caused a falling off, or flatness, behind the shoulders. 

 The loins are first rate, wide, long and full of flesh, hips 

 round and of moderate width ; rumps level and well 

 filled at the bed ; tail full near the rump and tapering 

 much at the top. The thighs of the cows are occasion- 

 ally light, but the bull and ox are full of muscle, with a 

 deep and rich flank. On the whole there is scarcely 



