32 



CATTLE. 



not equal to the others ; but possess a tendency to fatten and acquire 

 extraordinary bulk, scarcely inferior to that of short-horns. 



As either of these found their way to other districts, they mingled 

 to a greater or less degree with the native cattle, or they felt the 

 influence of change of climate and soil, and gradually adapted them- 

 selves to their new situation ; and each assumed a peculiarity of form 

 whicli characterized it as belonging to a certain district, and rendered 

 it valuable and almost perfect there. The Cheshire, the Derbyshire, 

 the Nottinghamshire, the Staffordshire, the Oxfordshire, and the 

 Wiltshire cattle were all essentially long-horns, but each had its dis- 

 tinguishing feature, which seemed best to fit it for its situation, and 

 the purposes for which it was bred. Having assumed a decided 

 character, vaiying only with peculiar local circumstances, the old 

 long-horns, like the Devons, the Herefords, and the Scotch, continued 

 nearly the same. There is no authentic detail of their distinguishing 

 points. From hmts given by old Avi-iters, we may conclude that some 

 of them at least were characterized by their roundness and length of 

 ••-arcass, coarseness of bone, thickness and yet mellowness of hide, and 

 he rich quahty although not abundant quantity of theu- milk. 



OLD GRAVEN LOXG-IIORX BULL. 



