366 THE OX. 



stock of Tomkins, and cultivated it with a scrupulous regard 

 to the purity of descent. 



The modern Hereford is a breed of the larger class, the 

 oxen attaining a weight scarcely surpassed by any other in 

 the kingdom. The colour is a dark red, or reddish-brown, 

 with white faces, and more or less of white on the back and 

 belly ; and the aim of modern breeders has for a considerable 

 period been to produce more of the white colour, which is 

 characteristic of the Pigeon or Silver line of Tomkins, and to 

 which the preference has long been given. The horns are of 

 medium length and spreading, but sometimes very short in 

 the bulls ; the forehead is broad, and the countenance open 

 and mild ; the shoulder is well formed, and the chest broad 

 and deep. Their beef brings a good price in the market, al- 

 though it is not so well marbled as that of some other breeds, 

 even of the lower country. They tend to accumulate fat 

 upon the rump, but not in the same degree as the Long-horns. 

 They fatten readily, and on ordinary food ; and hence the 

 general estimation in which the oxen are held for the pur- 

 poses of grazing. Although a docile race, the bulls frequently 

 become vicious when old. The cows, like the Devons, are 

 small as compared with the size to which the oxen attain. 

 They are likewise indifferent milchers, so that this breed is 

 rarely employed in the regular dairy. This must be ascribed 

 to the exclusive attention bestowed by modern breeders on 

 the fattening property, for the unimproved Herefords do not 

 seem to be deficient in this property, and the Glamorgans, 

 which are nearly allied to the Hereford Breed, possess it in 

 a high degree. 



By the acquisition of this beautiful breed, Herefordshire 

 has become a breeding rather than a grazing district. Com- 

 paratively few of the Herefords are fattened in the county 

 itself. They are bought by the graziers of other districts, 

 and thus fattened for the London and other markets. Num- 

 bers of them, after being worked for several years, are car- 



