THE DEVON BREED. 345 



velopment of its properties and form. The Ayrshire Breed 

 has been nearly doubled in weight, with a great increase in 

 its power of yielding milk, within the present century ; and, 

 with the further progress of cultivation, its improvement 

 cannot but be progressive. 



XIV. THE DEVON BREED. 



On the southern side of the Bristol Channel extends the 

 country of the ancient Damnonii, comprehending the present 

 counties of Devon and Cornwall. Much of this tract re- 

 sembles Wales in its aspect and geological characters ; and 

 like Wales, it afforded in a former age a refuge, amongst its 

 mountains, rocks, and fastnesses, for the Celtic Britons. In 

 this country we find the remains of the same older breeds 

 of cattle which yet exist in the Welsh mountains, modified 

 by the effects of a lower altitude and more temperate climate. 

 In the county of Cornwall to the westward, the old breeds 

 of cattle resembled those yet existing in the mountains of 

 Wales, although they have been long so mixed with other 

 races and with one another, that it is difficult to assign to 

 them any distinctive characters. But farther to the east- 

 ward, and occupying the high lands of Devonshire on the 

 Bristol Channel, is a peculiar variety of cattle, distinguished 

 by such a common resemblance of properties and form as to 

 render it one of the best-defined breeds of the British Islands. 

 It is usually termed the Devon Breed, and sometimes the 

 North Devon, from its being found in the greatest purity in 

 the northern division of the county. These cattle have been 

 extended very widely, but their peculiar district is the north- 

 ern slope of Devonshire, extending from Barnstaple eastward 

 beyond the river Exe. 



The true North Devons are to be classed with the breeds 

 of the higher country. They exceed a little in weight the 

 hardier and more muscular Pembroke and West Highland 

 cattle ; but they fall short of the Long-horned, Hereford, 



