THE DEVON BREED. 349 



means exist of cultivating artificial provender. In such situa- 

 tions, the larger individuals of the Short-Horned and Here- 

 ford races are preferred by those whose purpose is breeding 

 as well as grazing ; and we may be well assured that the in- 

 terests of individuals have conducted them, in this respect, 

 to the course which is most profitable. The Devon Breed, 

 however, must always be held in estimation over a large tract 

 of country. It will be sought for by those who purchase 

 cattle to graze for a limited period, and sufficient inducement 

 is therefore held out to the Devonshire breeders to preserve 

 the purity of their native race, and to bring it to all the per- 

 fection to which, by a careful selection of the parents, and 

 liberal feeding of the young, it can be brought. There is no 

 need of exaggerated statements of the superiority of the 

 Devon Breed over others, in order to place it in its proper 

 rank. Like the West Highland, the Castle-Martin, and the 

 Galloway Breeds, it has a high intrinsic value for the gra- 

 zier ; but assuredly it does not surpass, as some of its too 

 eager admirers maintain, other breeds which arrive at greater 

 weight, and attain earlier maturity. 



The Devonshire breeders adhere scrupulously to the deep 

 red colour of the hair, and reject individuals having a ten- 

 dency to produce white on the face and the body. This is a 

 merely conventional test of purity and goodness, for certainly 

 white is, still more than red, the pristine colour of the race, 

 and its appearance ought not to be regarded as a sign of 

 degeneracy. But although the strict adherence to a given 

 colour may limit in some cases the selection of males and 

 females for breeding, it tends in an eminent degree to ensure 

 the general purity of the breed. The deep blood-red colour 

 of the pure North Devons is so peculiar, that there is no 

 other race in this country, in which an admixture of foreign 

 blood is so easily traced, or which, accordingly, has remained 

 so free from foreign intermixture. Inasmuch, then, as this 

 limitation of colour ensures uniformity in the typical charac- 

 ters of the race, it is beneficial ; and it is not, therefore, ex- 



