20 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i. 



Utica, New York, America. At this sale six females of the ' Oxford ' 

 tribe averaged 1,0871 10s., and the bull-calves 396. 16s. 8d. Eleven 

 females of the ' Duchess ' tribe made the prodigious average of 

 4,522/. 14s. 2rf., one cow fetching the unparalleled sum of 40,600 

 dollars, or, in our mone}', 8,4581. 6s. 8d. 



" On the 4th of September, 1877, Mr. Thornton sold, at Bowness, 

 fifty-five Shorthorns which Mr. Cochrane, of Canada, had sent over to 

 this country for sale. The sum total amounted to 17,150Z., or an 

 average of 381. 2s. 2d. per animal. The average price of thirty-seven 

 cows, heifers, and calves was over 420., and of eight bulls over 2001. 

 The ' Third Duchess of Hillhurst/ red, calved December 25th, 1875, 

 and consequently only twenty months old, was sold to Mr. Loder of 

 Towcester for 4,100 guineas ; and the ' Fifth Duchess of Hillhurst,' 

 red, calved May 1st, 1876, and consequently only sixteen months 

 old, was bought by Lord Bective for the still larger sum of 4,300 

 guineas ! " 



To the foregoing records the following must be added : At the 

 sale of the Eai'l of Dunmore's Shorthorns at Dunmore, Scotland, by 

 Mr. Thornton, in 1875, the bull, " Duke of Cormaught," realized 

 4,500 guineas, and the average for 30 head was 672Z. 8s. These were 

 of the Bates blood. A few weeks afterwards the late Mr. Torr's herd 

 of Booth Shorthorns were sold by Mr. Thornton at Aylesby, when 

 the average for 84 head was 5101. 19s. 



Such were the values of certain fashionable tribes in those days, but 

 the position of the breed has since been rendered far more secure by 

 greater attention to personal merit. 



The history of the celebrated Durham Ox, the property of Mr. 

 Charles Colling, is too remarkable not to merit attention : 



He was bred in the year 1796, and at five years old was not only 

 covered thick with fat upon all the principal joints, but his whcle 

 carcass appeared to be loaded with it, and he was then thought so 

 wonderful an animal, that lie was purchased in February, 1801, for 

 140L, to be exhibited as a show ; his live weight being then 226 stones 

 of 14 pounds. In the following May he was again sold for 250. to 

 Mr. John Day, who, two months afterwards, refused for him 2,000 

 guineas. On May 14 Mr. Day could have sold him for 525/., on June 13 

 for 1,OOOL, and on July 18 for 2,OOOL He was exhibited in almost every 

 part of the kingdom until February 19, 1807, when he fell and dislo- 

 cated his hip-bone. Every remedy was attempted in vain, and on 

 April 15 he was shot. Although he must have lost considerably in 

 weight during his two months' illness, he weighed 187 stones 12 

 pounds ; l and Mr. Day stated his live weight, at ten years old, to 

 have been 278 stones. 



Uncommon as was the weight of this animal, he was exceeded in size 



st. Ib. 

 1 Viz. Four Quarters 165 12 



HhltT ' 10 *2 i" See " A K riculturalSurve y of Durham," p. 233 

 187 12 



