THE IRISH BREEDS OF CATTLE. 



The next of importance is Lagore. Lagore is a marsh, and from 

 the color of its peat is called the "Black Bog." In this marsh there 

 existed a circular mound, the circumference of which was upwards of 

 5<X)ft. On its removel over 150 cartloads of animal remains were 

 found, together with a vast store of rare, and many of them hitherto 

 unknown, weapons, ornaments, and domestic implements. The cir- 

 cumference of this mound was formed of upright posts from 6ft. to 

 8ft. in height, morticed into beams of similar material (black oak) laid 

 flat upon the marl and sand beneath the bog, and neany i6ft. below 

 the surface. The upright posts were held together by connecting 

 cross beams, and fastened by large iron nails. The space enclosed was 

 tilled with bones and black moory earth raised up in some places 

 within a foot of the surface floor of the compartments. It was also 

 generally found that the remains of each species of animal were placed 

 in separate divisions with but little intermixture with any other ; and 

 the antiquities were found with them without any order or regularity, 

 but -for the most part near the bottom of the mass of mystenous 

 debris. Yet, a valuable collection for antiquarians. 



The most numerous class of bones discovered were those of oxen, 

 and of these the heads of several varieties were found in a siate of 

 great preservation. Some of these were found to be, on examination, 

 identical with those previously -found in the bogs of Westmeath, 

 Tyrone, and Longford, which is very important to writers. 



A Mr. Ball, who was recognised as a naturalist of considerable ex- 

 perience, says: "The specimens of these oxen bones discovered in 

 this mound were, although of rather diminutive size, equal as regards 

 beauty of head and horn to any modern breed of Longhorn, Middle- 

 horn, and the Kerry, this being easily distinguished by the peculiari- 

 ties of the slug or core on which the horn is moulded, and which 

 had remained in perfect preservation, although in most cases the cir- 

 cular horn had disappeared." The same authority says : " The most 

 remarkable -feature of these oxen heads was the specimens of the 

 Long-horned breed a breed of cattle which had dominated the true 

 Irish cattle for centuries in the Midland Counties, particularly Ros- 

 common" ; and adds, " In this variety there is a very remarkable per- 

 fection of the upper portion of the frontal bone between the horns, 

 which latter, turned downwards, both forward and backward, some- 

 what after the more modern type of Longhorns." There were also 

 several heads of the polled or hornless variety, termed in Ireland 

 " mhaol," exhibiting some slight difference as to the fineness of their 

 heads, but in general resembling the modern Gallaway breed. A great 

 number of these heads are broken in the centre of the forehead, as if 

 by some blunt instrument, apparently the mode adopted of slaughter. 



It is only natural, and what might be expected, that the best breeds 

 and the largest assemblage of these animals should be found (even 

 at an early period) upon the fertile and extensive plains of Meath. 

 Be this as it may, the whole collection offers an incontestable proof 

 that at a remote period Ireland possessed not only several varieties of 

 horned cattle, but also breeds analogous to those most valued in 

 Great Britain and Ireland at the present day, and introduced into 

 Australia during the past one hundred years. 



It is difficult at the present day to assign either a precise date or 

 purpose to this strange collection, of which nothing similar has been 

 found in any other country, although certain small heaps of bones 

 O4 somewhat the same forms have been noticed in different 

 parts of Ireland, namely, Cork and Down. However, they 

 are without arrangement, and in this respect cannot be com- 

 pared with those of Meath. According to the best authori- 

 ties these mounds must have been constructed prior to the 

 thirteenth century, and possibly prior to the eighth century of the 



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