726 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



The hair is of a more or less deep wheaten colour, the head slender, the horns small 

 and placed near the eyes, the neck slim, the chest narrow, the body long, the hindquar- 

 ters broad, the legs short and thin, the skin supple and very delicate, the root of the tail 

 a little prominent. 



The cows run small and are generally good milkers, the ordinary yield of milk, after 

 calving, being from 15 to 18 liters a day. 



The bulls are very spirited, and become vicious as they grow old. The oxen are 

 strong, active, tractable, and form excellent draught beasts. 



This breed fattens late, but easily. ' 



THE PYBENEAN BEEEDS. 



I.r-Tlie Lourdes Breed. 



These are good milkers compared with the other breeds of the Pyrenean basin; they 

 are chiefly used in the valley of Argeles (Hautes-Pyrenees). 



They are of small stature, and carry a coat of light wheat color, which is considered 

 characteristic of purity of blood. In the bulls this color is somewhat deeper. The 

 head is long and somewhat heavy ; the horns of a dull white. 



This breed, highly esteemed as good milkers in a district where these are rare, sup- 

 plies the cow-sheds and dairies of Tarbes, Bagneres, and the large towns of the southwest. 



II. The Aure- Valley and Saint-Girons Breeds. 



These two breeds have many points in common. The first is raised in the high-lying 

 valleys of the Pyrenees; the second is restricted to the arrondissement of Saint-Girons 

 (Ariege). The latter, which may be regarded as the ancestor of the Bazadaise breed, is 

 well made, though small, and of general graceful appearance. The coat is of a deep 

 badger-gray color passing into chestnut, and all the exterior mucous membranes are 

 rose colored. The animals are not so strong as those of the Lourdes breed. 



The Saint-Girons cow, highly esteemed as a milker, is sent out to Ariege generally, to 

 Haute-Garonne, Aude, and Herault ; it is essentially the cow for small holdings, and 

 may be regarded as the Bretonne of the southwest. 



The Aure breed is not so small ; its coat is rough and more tawny in color, and the 

 cows are not such good milkers. 



The bullocks of both breeds are small, squat, hardy, and without any specially promi- 

 nent characteristics. 



III. Bearnaise, Basquaise, and Urt Breeds. 



These three breeds belong to the same family, and such differences as there are between 

 them are scarcely appreciable. Their essential characteristic is their aptitude for work 

 combined with the production of meat of excellent quality. 



All three are graceful in appearance, spirited, and playful. The head is short and 

 square, the broad forehead bearing well-placed and finely curved r horns. The coat varies 

 from deep red to light wheat color ; and these differences of color, 'as well as certain gradu- 

 ations in the direction and length of the horns, constitutes almost the whole distinction 

 there is between the three types. 



The bull bears a very fully developed horn from an early age (a character which is 

 rather rare in the generality of French breeds), and is very courageous. 



The cows are bad milkers, and are chiefly used for draught purposes. 



The bullocks are active, and good workers ; but they require gentle management, be- 

 ing easily made restive and obstinate. 



The raising of these three breeds is carried on in the part of the Pyrenees situated be- 

 tween Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Canterets. They are generally sent to be fattened in the 

 department of Landes, and notably in the arrondissement of Saint-Sauvenr, whence they 

 acquire the name of ' ' bcoufs landais, ' ' by which they are known on the Bordeaux market. 



THE LIMONSIXE BREED. 



This breed is principally raised in Haute- Vienne. It is of medium size, and the coat 

 is of red wheat color. 



The head is light, the muzzle and eyelids pale rose color, the horns white and open, 

 the back well set, the side rounded, the attachment of the tail a little prominent, the 

 limbs short and fleshy, the extremities white. Their leading characteristics are docility, 

 aptitude for work, and early fattening. 



