DIFFERENTIATION. 145 



the differentiation brought about by its consequences, 

 we find the cattle lacking an uniformity of color, yet 

 in many respects resembling the breed which for- 

 merly inhabited the wilds, and which now, degen- 

 erate, inhabits the parks of certain nobles. These 

 cattle differ from the wild herds in color, but this, it is 

 shown, is hardly an important character, as the wild 

 cattle display a strong tendency to vary among them- 

 selves. Moreover, the improved breed occasionally 

 sport into white with red ears, resembling thus the 

 forest breed. 2 The breeds of the county have not 

 the heavy mane, which history and tradition have 

 ascribed to the forest animal ; yet this animal has 

 lost it wholly or in part. 



As ideas of agricultural improvement reached these 

 regions, there is evidence of increased interest being 

 taken in the breeds ; the more obvious ^feature of 

 color is taken in hand, and brown and white colors 

 are preferred, and the result is a remarkably rapid 

 diffusion of these colors throughout the district dur- 

 ing the years intervening between 1785 and 1805, 

 the era of the Agricultural Society, and the certain 

 identification of the improved breed. The more 

 spirited of the agricultural improvers, attracted by 

 the fame of foreign breeds, introduce now and then 



2 U. 8. Pat. Off Report, Ag. 1851, p. 91, note. 



In October, 1872, a white heifer-calf, with ears tipped with red, was dropped, 

 from Ayrshire parents, at the Massachusetts Agricultural College. In October, 

 1874, we saw in the farm-yard of Mr. Tilton, at Martha's Vineyard, two cows, 

 perfectly white, save the inside of the ears, which were brown-red two thirds 

 down from the tip These animals were the result <>f a cross, an (grade?) Al- 

 derney bull and grade Ayrshire cow, a good illustration of reversion brought 

 about through crossing. In appearance these animals resembled Landseer's pic- 

 ture of the White Forest Breed, probably the only two white animals on the 

 island. 



