AYRSHIRE. 11 



AYRSHIRES. 



MR. M'CoMBiE, of Tillyfour, when called upon 

 to read a paper before the Chamber of Agriculture, 

 could begin thus : " My father and grandfather were 

 dealers in cattle." Not ours is this preparation, nor 

 have we "wintered and summered" with the Ayr- 

 shire, and heard her nightly breathing below our 

 straw bed in the byre, las happens with many a 

 Scotch hind. It were rare good fortune that should 

 strike out dullness from the mind of one so familiar 

 with his daily care, and unite ideas and the pen in 

 the single hand. 



Not the less have we thought of the Ayrshire cow, 

 if we have kept less near to her. How many billows 

 are there, think you, between her home and ours? 

 Answer this, and we will tell you we have braved 

 them all, in order to study her in her home. 



Our plan is simply to bring to your ear a narra- 

 tive of what is known and thought respecting this 

 interesting breed of cattle. 



The County of Ayrshire, in the southwest part of 

 Scotland, has given name to a breed of cattle cele- 

 brated for their dairy qualities. This county is in 

 outline nearly of the form of a half moon, concave 



