A PERFECT SHORT-HORN. 22/ 



to a creamy, rather than a white shade, and no dark tint or black 

 except at the tips, and even there the less of either the better. The 

 horns of some of the best animals sometimes take an upright form ; 

 others a backward and downward curve, which need not be objected 

 to if the creature be otherwise unobjectionable. But a perfect horn, 

 in either bull or cow, should have a graceful, outward spread, inclin- 

 ing gently downward or upward at the sides and front, small and fine. 



The ear : Should be upright, large, and thin, well covered inside 

 and out, with long, fine hair, and flexible in movement. It is not an 

 important feature, and only noticeable in adding grace and beauty to 

 the general features of the head. The head of a Short-horn gives 

 the animal much of its character for grace and comeliness, if not of 

 general excellence, although we have known many of superlative 

 quality in every other particular, with plain heads that being the 

 only objectionable point. The Booth heads are inclined to be quite 

 straight in the face, from forehead to muzzle so much so as some- 

 times to give the heifers a steery appearance. This, however, is a 

 matter of taste only, yet more common in the Booth stock than in 

 the herds of most other breeders. 



The neck : Should be strong and well set, of a graceful oval 

 shape adjoining the head, running backward on a level, in the cow, 

 and with a gradually rising crest in the bull, deepening and widening 

 as it approaches the bosom, where it should connect in a smooth 

 expansion, so that it can hardly be seen where the neck terminates 

 or the bosom begins. The neck should be free from hanging skin or 

 dewlap. 



The chest : This most important feature, from which spring the 

 brisket, shoulders, and fore ribs, should be deep, broad, and full, indi- 

 cating robustness and good constitution. 



The brisket : Set prominently forward, nearly perpendicular in 

 front, broad, and well let down, or even slightly projecting, towards 

 the bottom, with a thin, pendulous skin underneath, indicating an 

 elasticity of the flesh inclosed within it. 



The shoulders : Should be broad and even at the tops, working 

 backward into a level with the chine in the rear, on a direct line, mod- 

 erately upright, spreading outward as they descend from the top of 

 the chest, smooth at the forward points, and thence sloping gracefully 

 and tapering symmetrically into the fore legs above the knees. The 

 knees should be round, muscular, and stand well apart ; the legs 

 below fine-boned, and terminating in hoofs of proportionate size, 

 waxy, brindled or dark brown in color. 



