SHOWS AT EDINBURGH. I7I 



the prize was awarded. The exhibition included two Ayr- 

 shire oxen, bred by Mr Hope Johnstone of Annandale ; 

 these animals, with a pair exhibited by Sir Neil Menzies of 

 Menzies, were the first animals of the Ayrshire breed ap- 

 pearing at a general show of the Society. 



In the class of West Highland oxen there were four 

 entries, and the prize was carried by a pair exhibited by Mr 

 Stirling of Keir, bred by Mr Malcolm of Poltalloch, Arg>dl- 

 shire. In point of symmetry, however, a red ox, one of a 

 pair shown by Mr Home Drummond of Blair-Drummond, 

 was by far the finest of the many fine animals exhibited. 

 Indeed, his merit was so apparent, that an extra medal was 

 awarded to him on the unanimous recommendation of the 

 practical judges. This ox was bred by Mr Macdougall of 

 Macdougall, or by Mr Malcolm of Poltalloch ; it is not 

 certain which of these two gentlemen had the credit of 

 breeding him, but it belonged to one or the other. In the 

 same class. Sir Neil Menzies of Menzies exhibited a pair of 

 oxen, which were sold to Mr W. Plummer for £^0. As we 

 are speaking of prices, we may mention that Mr Stirling of 

 Keir sold his pair of West Highlanders and his Shorthorn 

 cross ox for ;^i 15. An honorary silver medal was awarded 

 to Sir Neil Menzies for his two oxen of the Ayrshire breed 

 and his two oxen of the West Highland breed. 



For the prize ' for the two Aberdeenshire oxen, not 

 under three and not exceeding six years old, showing most 

 symmetry, fat, and weight,' only one pair were entered, the 

 exhibitor being Mr Bogue, Woodhall, and the oxen being 

 from his farm of Snawdon. They were three and a-half 

 years old, and are entered as purchased by Mr Bogue at 

 the September Falkirk Tryst in 1825 from Mr M'Combie, 

 cattle dealer, in a lot of sixty. They were put up to feed 

 in the middle of September 1825, and were fed on hay, 

 turnips, and a little corn. The judges do not appear to 

 have considered them worthy of a prize. 



There was only one entry of Fife oxen, the exhibitor 

 being Mr Stuart, yr. of Dunearn, and the breeder being 

 Lord Balmuto. These two animals were exhibited as 

 store stock in 1824, at which time a doubt was stated as to 



