CHAP. i. SHORTHORN CATTLE. 21 



by a Yorkshire ox, bred by Mr. Dunhill, of Newtown, near Doncaster, 

 whose weight was 264 stones 12 pounds. He was supposed to have 

 lost nearly forty stones while being exhibited in London. 



More recently, another beast of uncommon size, fed by Lord Yar- 

 borough, was exhibited under the title of " the Lincolnshire Ox ; " 

 but, although bred in the county named from a favourite cow 

 belonging to Mr. Goulton, he was got by a descendant of Comet out 

 of Countess. This extraordinary animal measured five feet six 

 inches in height at the shoulders, eleven feet ten inches from the 

 muzzle to the setting on of the tail, eleven feet one inch in girth, 

 and three feet three inches across the hips, shoulders, and middle of 

 the back. The lowest point of his brisket was only fourteen inches 

 from the ground. There was a distance of one foot ten inches between 

 the fore-legs, and the girth of the fore-leg was nine inches. 



The following account of the Kirklevington herd of Shorthorns, 

 the property of Thomas Bates, is not a little interesting : " It 

 may be asserted with confidence that at the time of its dispersion or 

 sale on May 6, 1850, this herd was unequalled by any other in exist- 

 ence. Magnificent size, straight and broad back, arched and well- 

 spread ribs, wide bosom, snug shoulder, clean neck, light feet, small 

 head, prominent and bright but placid eyes, were the features of useful- 

 ness and beauty which distinguished it in the highest degree. The 

 hide was sufficiently thick to indicate an excellent constitution ; its ex- 

 traordinary elasticity, together with the soft furry texture of the coat, 

 evinced throughout the herd excellent quality of flesh and disposition 

 to rapid taking on of fat. ' Young Duchess,' a two-year old heifer, got 

 by Comet (the bull we have already spoken of), dam by Favourite, was 

 the originator of that portion of this herd called the ' Duchess family/ 

 One of her calves, ' the Fourth Duke of York,' now in the possession 

 of the Earl of Ducie, is as fine a bull as England can produce. The 

 only three calves yet got by him have realised the sum of 379Z. Is. 

 The herd consisted of forty-eight cows, heifers, and heifer calves, 

 and twenty bulls and bull calves, and realised a total amount of 

 4,5581 Is." l 



" The far-famed Booth herd," according to the excellent account 

 given by Mr. Dixon in his review of the * Herds of Great Britain,' 

 " was commenced about 1790 by Mr. Thomas Booth with well-selected 

 cows of the then existing Shorthorns, which he put to the hest of 

 Robert Ceiling's bulls, among which was Twin Brother to Ben (660). 2 

 After these he used Son of Twin Brother to Ben, Suwarrow, Easby, 

 and the Lame Bull. We alluded to his purchase of Albion at the 

 Ketton sale, and at Mr. Robert Colling's sale he purchased Pilot, of 

 the Wellington tribe, dam by Favourite, the Pilot and Albion crosses 

 being the making of the herd. ' Henceforward he only used those 

 bulls which were bred in the herd ; and his sons, with the exception 

 of a sparing use of Lord Stanley, Exquisite, Lord Zetland's Lord 



1 "Farmer's Magazine," June, 1850, p. 532. 



- This number is that referred to in the "Herd Book," each animal registered has its 

 distinctive number by which it is known. 



