THE UNITED KINGDOM. 61 



The Longhorn breed deserves to be considered next on account of its 

 antiquity, as at the early part of the century more Longlwrns were kept 

 than probably any other leading breed of cattle, chiefly because it was 

 then considered to be the best dairy breed and was extensively adopted 

 as such in the Midland counties. 



It seems singular that the great Bakewell should have prized it so 

 highly, considering that the bones are large and the hides thick of even 

 the better specimens. For deep milking Shorthorns of the right kind ex- 

 cel them, but it has been demonstrated of late that Longhorns can bo 

 greatly improved, and highly meritorious specimens have been brought 

 to the showyard by the Duke of Buckingham and several other breed- 

 ers, chiefly from the Midlands. 



The original breed of Longhorns appears to have sprung from York- 

 shire, thence to have subsequently receded to Leicestershire, Warwick- 

 shire,* and Derbyshire in which counties they are now most ^numerous. 



THE NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK POLLED CATTLE. 



The breeders of these cattle have determined on the following charac 

 teristics, which they should possess : 



The color red. Tip of the tail and udder may be white, and the extension of the 

 white of the udder a few inches along the inside of the flank, or a email white spot 

 or mark on the under part of the belly by the milk veins shall not be held as dis- 

 .qualifying an animal whoso sire and dam form part of an established herd of the breed, 

 or answer all other essentials of the standard descriptions. 



There shall be no horns, slugs, or abortive horns. * 



These cattle are known in the counties of ^Norfolk and Suffolk as the 

 Bed Polled. Among the good qualities which they possess is hardiness 

 of constitution, which enables them to thrive on scanty pasturage and 

 to withstand the severe winters and cold springs usually experienced 

 in the eastern counties of England. 



Their milking properties are unquestionable, as they have not a tend- 

 ency to go dry like many other breeds having a reputation as dairy 

 cattle, and it not unfrequently happens that the cow will continue to 

 yield a good quantity of milk from one calving to another. 

 No doubt the present Polled breed was the result of a cross with the 

 Galloway cattle, large numbers of which were formerly brought into 

 the eastern counties to be grazed. The tuft of hair growing down- 

 wards on the forehead is common to both breeds, whilst occasionally a 

 black nose, a " slug " horn, or a spot of white on the face, or, more fre- 

 quently, on the udder or belly j gives an indication of the original blood. 



The breed does not mature early, and is rather diminutive in size. 

 The heaviest specimen at the late Smithfield Club show was Mr. Alfred 

 Taylor's ox, by King Charles, which, within a day of four years-old, 

 scaled 17 cwt., 3 qrs., and 6 Ibs., and Mr. E. E. Lofftfs eight-year-old 

 cow, which was reserved in the female class, closely approximated to 

 this weight, being 17 cwt., 2 qrs., and 24 Ibs. 



THE SUSSES CATTLE. 



The Sussex breed was formerly used in place of horses for plowing 

 and heavy work. They were very active and well suited to such pur- 

 poses; however, of late the working of oxen has decreased in a marked 

 degree, and the breeders of Sussex cattle have turned their attention 

 to the improvement of the animals with great success. They resemble 

 the Devons in many respects, but are larger. Formerly they were not, 



