FRANCE. 245 



kilograms (275 pounds) of fat. Another of these monstrous animals 

 weighed 4,185 pounds, and measured 2 m 45 cm , or 8 feet, at the withers, 

 and 2 m 97 cm , or 9 feet 9 inches, from the head to the base of the tail. 



Their comparative aptitude for work is very slight, a small pair of 

 Gascon, Batidois, or de Salers oxen would soon tire out these huge Co- 

 tentines. 



The meat of this breed is highly esteemed in regard to quality, but 

 the small proportion of net weight of meat and the great proportion of 

 bone (of make weight) is quite striking. Many attempts have been 

 made to overcome this difficulty without interfering with the extraor- 

 dinary milking qualities of the breed, but with very indifferent success, 

 and the breeders rest content with the oxen which they have, knowing 

 that in the best dairy races the ox is secondary. 



THE DURHAM-SCHWITZ-NORMAND. 



There seems no good reason why the cross of the type de Schwitz, 

 which has been frequently tried, should improve the breed. In the 

 opinion of Norman breeders the race Cotentine is the best for milk to 

 be found in Europe, the race Scwitz could not improve it in that re- 

 spect, and it is not wonderful in its product of meat. 



This half-breed has been again crossed with the Durham, and given 

 rise to a new race, termed the "Durham-Schwitz-Normand." 



Many rather remarkable specimens of this type have been exhibited. 

 Their characters were those of the Durham, with less fineness of bone 

 and skin. This new race seems to have no advantage over the cross- 

 breed of the Durham and Normand. The amelioration of the race 

 Normande, in view of its chief aptitude, can only be obtained by selec- 

 tion. 



THE BRITTANY BREED. 



The race Bretonne occupies nearly exclusively the five departments 

 which are comprised in the ancient province of Bretagne, consisting of 

 the departments C6tes-du-Nord, Finistere, Morbihan, Loire Inferieure, 

 Ille-et-Vilaine. Bretagne possesses only one race of cattle, the race 

 Bretonne strange coincidence in France, where each province num- 

 bers many breeds among its stock of cattle. This breed, is very nu- 

 merous and contains about 1,500,000 head of cattle, or about one-eighth 

 of all the cattle of France. 



It presents varied developments according to the fertility and culti- 

 vation of the soil where it is found, but everywhere is found some type 

 that indicates its origin from the department of Morbihan. 



Origin. Various origins are given, to the race, such as that it is a 

 degradation of the race Hollandaise ; that it came from the Indies, on 

 account of its similarity to the milch cows in the neighborhood of Bor- 

 deaux, which are supposed to have had such an origin, &c. The best 

 authorities, however, agree that the race Bordelaise, as this race is 

 termed in the neighborhood of Bordeaux, and which resemble the Hol- 

 landaise race, is nothing but the race Bretonne more developed by 

 means of more abundant and substantial food. 



Characteristics. The ancient race Bretonne is pie-black or black in 

 color. The cow may be described as having a black snout, sometimes 

 mottled, rarely white, while the membrane which surrounds the tongue 

 is always white, which is distinguishing mark. Taken altogether the 

 animals of this breed would be classed as follows : Thick set, often 

 found measuring at the withers from 3 feet 2 inches to 3 feet 6 inches 5 



