168 UNGULATES. 



of their milk -yielding qualities, and the readiness with which they fatten. The}' 

 have short horns, and are generally parti-coloured, with lighter shades of colour 

 than the Highland breeds. 



The well-known Highland cattle, of which there are several 

 Highland Breed. J . . ,\ ,, . ' . ,, . , 



strains, are characterised by their small size, the presence or horns, 



directed more or less upwardly, in both sexes, their short and sturdy limbs, and 

 their rough and generally uniformly-coloured coats, which are greatly developed in 

 the region of the neck. Generally the muzzle is black ; but the colour of the hair 

 may be either black or brown, or a mixture of these two, and sometimes of mouse- 

 dun. These cattle are remarkable for their hardy habits, and vary in size accord- 

 ing to the nature of the pasture of their native districts. Although far from good 

 milkers, when brought down to the rich pastures of England they fatten readily. 

 The West Highland breed is the finest, that of the Central Highlands the 

 smallest, and that of the eastern coasts near the Lowlands the largest. 



The Welsh cattle are best known by the Pembroke breed, and 



are generally of rather larger size than the Highland races, with 

 yellow or orange-coloured unctuous skins ; the hair being generally black. They 

 are quite as hardy as the Highland cattle, and will thrive on very scanty nutri- 

 ment, while they have the advantage of being much better milkers. 



The Kerry breed is a well-known strain of hardy mountain 



cattle, agreeing in the colour of their skins with the Pembroke breed. 

 The hair is generally black with a white streak down the back, and sometimes 

 another along the belly ; but it may be pure black or brown, black and white, or 

 black and brown. The horns are long, tapering, and directed upwards. These 

 cattle are valued for the good milking qualities of the cows, even when nourished 

 upon inferior pasture. 



The polled Angus breed, produced on the Devonian rocks of 



Forfar and Kincardine, are larger than the Highland cattle, from 

 which they are readily distinguished by the absence of horns in both sexes. They 

 are mostly black with white markings, but may be brindled black and brown ; the 

 skin being dark-coloured. This breed has in all probability been derived from the 

 Highland cattle, and has attained its superior size and excellent milk-yielding 

 qualities from having been reared on the richer pastures of the Lowlands. The 

 polled Aberdeenshire breed is another strain of hornless cattle of mixed origin, 

 bred in the lower districts of the county from which it derives its name. 



The Gallow^ay breed is also a hornless one, and is of great 



antiquity, having been in existence at least since the sixteenth 

 century. They inhabit a district underlain by Silurian and Cambrian rocks in 

 the south-west of Scotland ; and are essentially a mountain breed, being inferior in 

 size to the polled Angus, although superior to the Highland breed. The skin is 

 dark-coloured, and the hair generally black ; while the great depth of the body will 

 always suffice to distinguish this breed from all other polled strains. Mr. D. Low 

 states that "these cattle are hardy, exceedingly docile, sufficiently good feeders, 

 when carried to suitable pastures, and weigh well in proportion to their bulk." 



The polled Suffolk is a less important hornless breed from the 

 Polled Suffolk. 



eastern counties of England, which was originally of a mouse-dun, or 



