262 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



The tlio rough-bred Devon is a beautiful creature, of medium 

 size, but of such nicely-balanced proportions that he usually 

 weighs more than an eye accustomed only to our native animals 

 "would suspect. The color is commonly a deep mahogany red, 

 with usually a white tip to the tail, a white stripe along the 

 belly, and white about the udder of the cows. 



Within a few years importations of Devons have been made 

 whose color varies from the long-established type in being a 

 light red. This novel color at first gave rise to questions as to 

 the purity of their blood ; but this is now, we believe, admit- 

 ted. Much as we regret this innovation in point of color, we 

 consent to it the more readily since among these light reds are 

 animals of unsurpassed excellence, and bred by the best Devon 

 breeders in England. 



The head of the Devon is small, with a forehead broad and 

 somewhat concave or dishing ; muzzle fine ; nose of an orange 

 hue ; and a ring of the same color is around the eye. The 

 horns are clear and waxy — smooth, of a yellowish- white color, 

 and elegantly turned upwards. In form the Devon is compact 

 and symmetrical. His limbs are light, but with bone enough 

 for activity and strength. The skin is of a clear orange color, 

 covered with an abundance of soft, thick hair. As a breed they 

 are good feeders, and produce beef finely marbled and very del- 

 icate. 



They»are not deep milkers ; but they yield well, and their 

 milk is of excellent quality. It is as the best breed to produce 

 working cattle that the Devon is chiefly remarkable. No other 

 breed so uniformly gives such active, docile, light yet strong and 

 hardy-working oxen; and their resemblance to one another 

 makes it easy to match them. No one who has seen a team of 

 well-bred Devon oxen can fail to appreciate its elegance. 



Private enterprise and the liberality of the Massachusetts 

 Agricultural Society have introduced good Devons into this 

 State ; and here, in Bristol county, we have Devon bulls well 

 worthy of the attention of all who desire to introduce this val- 

 uable blood into their yards.* 



* "We arc not, wc think, going 1 icy. mil propriety in pointing "at tin bulb of Mr. 

 Allen, of Attleborough, Colonel ]'agc, of Nt"\v Bedford, and Mr. Knight Day, 



