116 CATTLE. 



antiquity (hey hoast.'* Martin says, "In Groningen, Friesland, Guil- 

 derland, Utrecht, and Holland, a fine short-horned race of cattle has 

 long existed. This ancient short-horn race may in fact be traced 

 from Jutland and Holstein (both in Denmark), along the western 

 portions of Europe, through the Netherlands (Holland and Belgium), 

 to the borders of France. In reference to our (the English) short- 

 horned breed, Mr. Culley says ' there are many reasons for thinking 

 this breed has been imported from the continent.' " 



The trreat argument, however, for the continental origin is, un- 

 doubtedly, that the short-horns, a local breed in four counties only 

 of England, had no congener or allied breed elsewhere in England, 

 but found it only on the continent, from Denmark to Belgium. The 

 Danes ravaged all the region from Denmark to France, for more than 

 one hundred years, from 850 to 950, and in 8*75 conquered the 

 kingdom of Northumbria, which comprised the counties of Yorkshire, 

 Durham, and Northumberland, in England, and held it, either inde- 

 pendently or by paying tribute, for nearly two hundred years, and 

 until subjected and incorporated with England, as one kingdom, by 

 William the Conqueror. At what time the short-horns were brought 

 to these Danish counties in England, is unknown ; but it is probable 

 as many as seven or eight centuries since. There is a cow sculptured 

 on the west corner tower of the eastern transept of the cathedral of 

 the city of Durham, commemorating a tradition as to the cathedral ; 

 and in every respect the effigy presents a short-horned cow. This 

 transept was begun to be built in the year 1235, and was finished 

 by Prior Hotoun about 1300, he dying in 1308. 



But it is conceded by all authorities that the short-horns have 

 existed for ages in Durham ; the question is what were the means 

 used to improve them up to their present perfection. Some say by 

 selections among the race itself ; others claim that bulls were im- 

 ported from Holland, and crossed on them ; that the white wild 

 breed of Chillingham and Chatelherault (Cadyow) Parks, and even 

 the Alderneys, were used. As to the Alderney, it may be remarked 

 that not one of the historians of English cattle, Culley, Berry, Mar- 

 tin, Youatt, mentions this cross, and therefore it is not worth refuta- 

 tion. As to the cross with the white wild breed, it is a mere con- 

 jecture, and is only mentioned by Berry and Martin ; Culley says 

 nothing of it. 



2. It is not true that, about one hundred years since, the breeders 

 of short-horns, in the pretended improvement, " proceeded on a 

 judicious system of crossing with other breeds ; and one to which 

 they referred was, in all probability, the white wild breed." 



From the earliest period white cattle were known in Jutland, 

 Holstein, (Denmark,) Hanover, Oldenburgh, and Holland. From the 

 earliest accounts we have of the short-horn in England, the white is 

 known to have existed very anciently. The source then of the 



