304 THE OX. 



even with the Short-horns. Fine animals are produced by 

 first crosses of this kind ; and many of the fat oxen sent to 

 be exhibited at cattle-shows are thus obtained. But the 

 benefit may be said to end with the first cross : the future 

 progeny is inferior to either of the parent races ; to the larger 

 cattle of the plains in their peculiar characters, and to the 

 mountain breed in their adaptation to a steril country. 

 Every consideration, therefore, founded on our knowledge of 

 the character of the animals, and the nature of their country, 

 indicates the propriety of maintaining the purity of the race 

 of the Highlands, and calling forth its useful properties by 

 careful breeding. Over all the Northern and Central High- 

 lands, a vast scope for beneficial improvement is open ; and 

 no easier method of effecting it presents itself, than the ob- 

 taining of Bulls from those districts where circumstances 

 have enabled the breeders to bring them to the greatest per- 

 fection of form. 



IV. THE PEMBROKE BKEED. 



The Pembroke Breed of Cattle is proper to the county of 

 that name, which occupies the south-western extremity of 

 the principality. But the breed extends to all the neigh- 

 bouring districts, and may be said to be the type of the whole 

 Mountain Breeds of Wales. It has been seen that the 

 White Forest Breed, by the mere change of colour, becomes 

 similar to the modern Pembrokes, and is indeed identical 

 with them. The latter possess the distinctive horns of the 

 Wild Breed, and the yellow unctuous skin which character- 

 izes it. The horns are fine, tapering, turned upwards at the 

 points, and tipped with black, and the yellowness of the 

 skin appears as a deep orange, nearly black, on the inside of 

 the ears, the mammae, and other naked parts. The skin is 

 soft, and well covered with hair,* a character which always 

 indicates a humid climate. The colour preferred by the 



