SHORT-HORNS. ORIGIN. 



31 



extent ; or, if they ever were, no traces of them as a 

 distinct breed can now be found here. 



THE SHORT-HORNS. No breed of horned cattle has 

 commanded more universal admiration during the last 

 half-century than the improved Short-horns, whose ori- 

 gin can be traced back for nearly a hundred years. 

 According to the best authorities, the stock which 

 formed the basis of improvement existed equally in 

 Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Northumberland, and counties 

 adjoining ; and the preeminence was accorded to Dur- 

 ham, which gave its name to the race, from the more 

 correct principles of breeding which seem to have pro 

 vailed there. 



There is a dispute among the most eminent breed- 

 ers as to how far it owes its origin to early importations 

 from Holland, whence many superior animals were 

 brought for the purpose of improving the old long- 

 horned breed. A large race of cattle had existed for 

 many years on the western shores of the continent of 

 Europe. At a very early date, as early as 1633, they 



