THE ABOYNE CASTLE HERD. 169 



2nd 2570, were obtained for 120 guineas. The bull Duke 

 of Perth 357 was secured at the Westertown dispersion in 

 1874. At Mr Hannay's sale at Corskie in 1877 the bull 

 Warrior 1291, of the Kothiemay Victoria strain, was pur- 

 chased for 155 guineas. He was the first-prize yearling 

 at the Highland Society's show, and his dam sold for 

 111 guineas and his sire Young Viscount 736 for 225 

 guineas. Several animals were bought at the Indego, 

 Auchlossan, Melville, Glamis, and Kothiemay sales. In 

 1878, at Tillyfour, Pride of Mulben 2nd 2359 was bought 

 for 91 guineas and Vine 9th 3256 for 72 guineas ; and at 

 the Tillyfour dispersion in 1880, Charmer 3rd 3251 of the 

 Queen tribe was obtained for 150 guineas. 



The herd was thus based on the very best obtainable 

 material, and was collected at an expense of about 2000. 

 Showing was rarely resorted to, the object having been 

 to keep a class of regular and useful breeding animals. 

 A number of first-rate bulls were bred in the herd, and 

 several of these were sold to the Marquis's tenantry ou 

 favourable terms. In this way, as well as others, the herd 

 exerted a most beneficial influence. When specimens 

 from the herd were exhibited they obtained high honours 

 at the national and local shows. Thus Lord Huntly had 

 the rare fortune of gaining the Highland Society's first 

 prizes for aged bulls and cows at Glasgow in 1875, with 

 Duke of Perth and Dora. Monarch was also a first-prize 

 bull at the Highland Society, and his darn Madge, as 

 already mentioned, was the first-prize cow at Kilburn 

 in 1879. The chief distinction of the herd, and one that 

 perhaps afforded its owner more satisfaction than any 

 other, was the rearing of the Madge family. Madge proved 

 a first-rate breeder, and her offspring were uniformly good. 

 A large draft was sold from the herd in 1879, when 37 

 head averaged over 44; and in 1881 the herd was dis- 

 persed, the average for 32 head being over 50. The 

 total proceeds of these two public sales was over 3200. 



