278 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



is small and delicate at its junction with the head, but is well 

 expanded in its attachment to the breast and shoulders. The 

 last has the true slant for working, activity and strength, in 

 which it excels all other breeds of equal weight. The barrel 

 is round and deep, with a projecting brisket. The back is 

 broad and level ; the flank full ; narrow hips ; the rumps 

 long, and the quarters well developed, and capable of holding 

 a great quantity of the most valuable meat. The tail is on a 

 level with the back, and gracefully tapers like a drum -stick, 

 to the tuft on the end. The legs are of peculiar delicacy and 

 fineness, yet possess great strength. The skin is of medium 

 thickness, of a rich orange hue, pliable to the touch, and co- 

 vered with a thick coating of tine, soft curly hair. The Devon 

 is intelligent, gentle and tractable ; is good for milk, and unsur- 

 passed for the yoke and for fattening. No animal is better 

 suited to our scanty or luxuriant hill pastures than the Devon, 

 and none make a better return for the attention and food re- 

 ceived. They insure a rapid improvement when mixed with 

 other cattle, imparting their color and characteristics in an em- 

 inent degree. Several importations have been made into this 

 country within the last 30 years, of the choicest animals, and 

 though not yet numerous in the United States, we possess 

 some of the best specimens that exist. 



THE SHORT HORNS on DURIIAMS are decidedly the most 

 showy and taking among the cattle species. They are of all 

 colors between a full, deep red, and a pure creamy white ; but 

 generally have both intermixed in larger or smaller patches, or 

 intimately blended in a beautiful roan. Black, brown or brin- 

 dled are not recognized among pure bred Short Horns. Their 

 form is well-spread, symmetrical and imposing, and capable 

 of sustaining a large weight of valuable carcass. The horn 

 was originally branching and turned upward, but now fre- 

 quently has a downward tendency, with the tips pointing to- 

 wards each other. They are light and comparatively short, 

 clear, highly polished and waxy. The head is finely formed, 

 with a longer face but not so fine a muzzle as the Devon. 

 The neck is delicately formed without dewlap; the brisket 

 projecting, and the great depth and width of the chest giving 

 short, well-spread fore legs. The crops are good ; back and 

 loin broad and flat ; ribs projecting ; deep flank and twist ; 

 tail well set up, strong at the roots and tapering. They have 

 a thick covering of soft hair, and are mellow to the touch, 

 technically termed handling well. They mature early and 

 rapidly for the quantity of food consumed, yielding largely of 



