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mals. If thej do not always obtain premiums, — and the "vvay is 

 open for that to all alike, — yet Avill they receive a portion of their 

 expenses ; and, in addition, all the benefit which others derive 

 from the exhibition. And we believe that whoever exhibits his 

 €rops or stock, or any fruit of his skill or industry, at our annual 

 fair, receives, or may receive, benefits greater than any expense 

 he will incur. If the purpose of the Society were viewed in a 

 true light, the benefit which all its members obtain for themselves 

 and help to confer on others, would be regarded as of more worth 

 than any premiums ever awarded. Still, to equalize the actual 

 expense incurred, we think it just that some distinction should be 

 made in favor of those who live remote from the place of exhibi- 

 tion, and can only with less convenience and at greater expense 

 •drive or bring animals to the ground. 



We understand, that since our last show, a member of the So- 

 ciety, who has taken great interest in its prosperity, has imported 

 some animals of a peculiar and promising character. They are 

 of the Kerry and Shetland breeds. The description of them will 

 be new, and much interest will be felt to know what are their 

 peculiar characteristics. By permission of the gentleman who 

 imported them, we have obtained from his agent the following 

 account : — 



Of the " Kerries," Mr. Howard says : " These Httle mountain 

 cattle are highly prized by the cottagers, and like the reindeer to 

 the Laplander, ' form their riches.' In their native districts, I 

 found the cattle even smaller than I had supposed them to be, — 

 but very useful in that locality, — living where no other cattle I 

 have ever seen could live. In several instances I met with them 

 at elevations of fifteen hundred to two thousand feet above the 

 sea, sharing with the goat the wild herbage of the mountain's 

 side. Their color varies from black to black and white, brindled 

 and red ; but clear black is preferred as indicating the nearest 

 affinity with the original type. I hardly know how to estimate 

 the weight of these cattle, as they are so different from any others 

 I have been acquainted with. The two-year old heifers which I 

 bought for iNIr. Austin, — rather larger of their age than the ave- 

 rage of the breed, — girted from four feet five inches, to four feet 

 six inches. They are large-bodied in proportion to then* height, 

 their legs being short and the shank bones very small. Their 

 heads are generally handsome, and the countenance hvely, but 

 with a mild expression. The best of them are decidedly pretty. 

 When taken to the low country and supplied with plenty of nutri- 

 tious food, they become more bulky ; but I had no opportunity to 

 see what would be the effect of breeding them for several genera- 

 tions in a milder climate and on a better soil. As illustrative of 

 their hardiness, I will mention an incident. A man led me up a 



