THE SHORT-HORNS. 101 



him ; and he had the satisfaction to dispose of his bull Patriot foi 

 five hundred guineas. 



Mr. Coates fell into an error, but too common, and generally 

 equally fatal : he fancied his own stock the best, and disdained to 

 cross tiiem -with Mr. Colling's ; which, as others afterwards proved, 

 would have been a most judicious proceeding. The consequence 

 was, Mr. Colling's sale having settled the public judgment and 

 taste, Mr. Coates's stock fell into disrepute. If an apology be requi- 

 site for this statement of an undeniable fact, it will be found in the 

 utihty of holding up such an example as a caution to those who may 

 be in danger of falling into a similar error. 



It is considered that the specimens already appealed to, and the 

 fine animals whose portraits accompany this account, will render su- 

 perfluous any attempt more particularly to describe the short-horns. 

 Of course they will be found to vary greatly ; but sufficient may be 

 collected from what is presented to the reader, to inform him as to 

 the character of this superior breed of cattle. The next object, then, 

 will be to show their capabilities to make a return for food consumed, 

 and the unparalleled early period at which such return may be 

 made. Indeed, early maturity is the grand and elevating character- 

 istic of the short-horns, and their capacity to continue grooving, 

 and at the same time attaining an unexampled ripeness of condition 

 at an early age, has excited the wonder, and obtained the approba- 

 tion, of all not blinded by prejudice. 



In order to do justice to the subject, and to show that these pro- 

 perties are not all of recent acquirement, but were possessed in an 

 eminent degree by the Teeswater cattle, it will be requisite to give 

 a few facts in evidence. 



Sir Henry Grey (of Howick) bred tw^o oxen, which were fed by 

 Mr. Waistell, and when six years old weighed 130 stones each, 

 14 lbs. to tlie stone (1S20 lbs.) ; their inside fat being extraordinary. 



A heifer, three years old, bred by Miss Allen (of Grange), fed on 

 hay and grass alone, weighed 90 stones, (1360 lbs.) 



Two three years'-old steers, bred by the same lady, and similarly 

 fed, weighed respectively 92 and 96 stones, (1288 lbs. and 1344 lbs.) 



Mr. Waistell's four years'-old ox, by the grand-sire of Hubback, 

 weighed 110 stones, (1540 lbs.) 



A four years'-old ox, bred by Mr. Simpson (of Aychflfe,) fed on 

 hay and turnips only, weighed 135 stones, (1890 lbs.) 



A fire years'-old heifer, bred by a bishop of Durham, weighed 

 110 stones, (1540 lbs.) 



A cow of Mr. Hill's, slaughtered in Northumberland, weighed 127 

 b-tones, (1*738 lbs.) 



Mr. George Coates, before-mentioned, slaughtered a heifer, by the 

 Bire of Hubback, which, fed on turnips and hay, weighed, at two 

 years and tw( months old, 68 stones, (932 lbs.) 



