THE BRITISH OX. 



of the breeders. They have, however, been very conveniently 

 classed according to the comparative size of the horns ; the long 

 horns, originally from Lancashire, much improved by Mr. Bakewell, 

 of Leicester-hire, and established through the greater part of the 

 midland counties ; the short horns, mostly cultivated in the northern 

 counties, and in Lincolnshire, and many of them found in every part 

 of the kingdom where the farmer attends much to his dairy, or a 

 large supply of milk is wanted ; and the middle horns, not derived 

 from a mixture of the two preceding, but a distinct and valuable 

 and beautiful breed, inhabiting principally the north of Devon, the east 

 of Sussex, Herefordshire, and Gloucestershire; and, of diminished bulk, 

 and with somewhat different character, the cattle of the Scottish and 

 the Welsh mountains. The Alderney, with her crumpled horn, is 

 found on the southern cost, and, in smaller numbers, in gentlemen's 

 parks and pleasure-grounds every where ; while the polled, or horn- 

 less cattle, prevail in Suffolk, and Norfolk, and in Galloway, whence 

 they were first derived 



These, however, have been intermingled in every possible way. 

 They are found pure only in their native districts, or on the estates 

 of some cpulent and spirited individuals. Each county has its own 

 mongrel breed, often difficult to be described, and not always to be 

 traced — neglected enough, yet suited to the soil and to the climate ; 

 and, among little farmers, maintaining their station, in spite of at- 

 tempts at improvements by the intermixture or the substitution of 

 foreign varieties. 



The character of each important variety, and the relative value of 

 each for breeding, grazing, the dairy, or the plough, will be consi- 

 dered before we inquire into the structure or general and medical 

 treatment of cattle. Much dispute has arisen as to the original breed 

 of British cattle. The battle has been stoutly fought between the 

 advocates of the middle and the long horns. The short horns and 

 the polls can have no claim ; the latter, although it has existed in 

 certain districts from time immemorial, was probably an accidental 

 variety. 



We are very much disposed to adjudge the honor to the " middle 

 horns." The Icmg horns are evidently of Irish extraction, as in due 

 place we shall endeavor to show. 



Britain has shared the fate of other nations, and oftener than they, 

 has been overrun and subjugated by invaders. As the natives re- 

 treated, they carried with them some portion of their property, 

 which, in those early times, consisted principally in cattle. They 

 drove along with them as many as they could, when they retired to 

 the fortresses of north Devon and Cornwall, or the mountainous re- 

 gions of Wales, or when they took refuge in the wealds of east Sus- 

 sex ; and there, retaining all their prejudices, customs and manners, 



