THE UNITED KINGDOM. 159 



the earliest records it can be traced as the peculiar breed of the county 

 from which it takes its name. They belong to the " middle.-horned vari- 

 ety," and in the opinion of some are the most suitable for paying from 

 an all-round point of view ; they are very quick feeders, and the high 

 price of the Devon meat shows they are most salable animals -just 

 equal to the Scotch and that more per acre can be made from Devons 

 at less cost and care. Those reared in the north of. the county (Devon- 

 shire) are noted for their rich curly coat, but this they frequently lose 

 when taken away from their native home. They, however, bear the 

 change of climate and soil well, thrive where many breeds would starve, 

 and rapidly outstrip most others when they have plenty of good past- 

 ures. 



Those in the south of the county, known as the "South Hams breed," 

 from the district from which they are bred, appear to be a mixture of 

 North Devons with the Guernsey and are large-framed, coarse-boned, 

 good milkers, with hardy constitutions and large offals. According to 

 some the North Devon differs from the South Devon in everything 

 which is necessary to constitute a good animal. Each breed, however, 

 has its own particular merits, each answering a better purpose than 

 the other according to the climate, soil, situation, and other circum- 

 stances in which it may be placed. The Devon breed is most valuable 

 for its aptitude to fatten, delicacy of touch, and the choice quality of 

 its beautified, veined, and marbled beef, the especial favorite of the 

 butcher (who has a select family trade), for carrying the most beef in 

 the most valuable parts, and for lightness of offal they stand unrivaled, 

 The first herd-book was issued in 1851. 



Description. The general form of the Devon is very graceful, and 

 exhibits a refined organization of animal qualities not surpassed by 

 any breed. The head should be small, with a broad indented forehead, 

 tapering considerably toward the nostrils ; the nose of a creamy white; 

 the jaws clean and free from flesh ; the eye bright, lively, and promi- 

 nent, encircled by a deep orange-colored ring; the ears thin j the horns 

 of the female long, spreading, and gracefully turned up, tapering off 

 towards the ends. The horns of the male are thicker set and more 

 slightly curved, or in some instances standing out nearly square, with 

 only a slight inclination upwards. 



The color of the true Devon is a pure red. 



Animals. 



Average 

 weight at 

 maturity. 



Cow cwt 



Bull : do. 



Ox - do. 



Age at maturity : Steers, four years ; cows for breeding, four to six years. 



How long bred pure : Aboriginal breed ; special attention given to the breed since 1827. 



In reference to the milk of the Devon cows, Col. J. J. Davy reports 

 (1st November, 1883) : 



A friend of mine last week tested one day's milking of his 40 cows, which give 

 47 gallons milk, which made 61^ pounds' of whole milk cheese. His neighbor's 40 cross- 

 bred cows gave 61 gallons of milk, which produced only 5G pounds of whole milk 

 cheese. All the cattle were similarly kept. 



From this it appears that 40 pure-bred Devons yielded 470 pounds 

 milk, which gives 61J pounds whole milk cheese, while 40 cross-bred 



