DUNLOP BREED. 141 



narrow on the back, and flat on the ribs, and mostly 

 of a black color, with white spots on their faces and 

 other parts. 13 These descriptions show an affinity 

 with the Highland breed. 



The first record of improved cattle that we are able 

 to find goes back to about the year 1700. Ro. For- 

 syth, in 1805, states that for the purpose of prepar- 

 ing cheese in Cunningham, a breed of cattle for more 

 than a century had been established, remarkable for 

 the quantity and quality of their milk in proportion 

 to their size. These had long been denominated the 

 Dunlop breed, either from the lands of the ancient 

 family of that name, or from the name of the parish 

 where the breed was first brought to perfection. 

 Our only other reference to this breed by name is in 

 the " Complete Grazier," an anonymous work, pub- 

 lished about 1300, where it is stated that the Dunlop 

 breed, is a cross from Alderney cows with Fifeshire 

 bulls, and are described as small in size, of a pied or 

 sandy red color, and with small horns awkwardly 

 set on. 14 



In 1778 and 1780 the color of red and white be- 

 came fashionable ; 15 and between 1785 and 1805 the 

 brown and white mottled cattle became so generally 

 preferred, as to bring a larger price than others of 

 equal size and shape, if differently marked ; 16 and 

 Aiton speaks of the red and white being common in 

 1810. 15 



Color is affected much by varied conditions ; and 



is Sinclair's Scotland, 1814, iii, 43. Survey of Ayrshire, p. 424. 



" Complete Grazier, 3d ed. p. 7. " Beauties of Scotland, ii, 439. 



