3l6 HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



In a note on the extra cattle, the Directors say : — ' In 

 this class the cow and calf of the Polled breed, bred and 

 exhibited by Mr Watson, Keillor, excited much interest. 

 The cow is twenty-six years of age, and having reared 

 twenty-three calves, shows strikingly the sound constitution 

 of the stock, which is now more than ever an important 

 qualification. This cow having long previously won the So- 

 ciety's highest premiums, was disqualified from competing, 

 and had consequently to be exhibited as extra stock.' This 

 animal was doubtless the Prima Cow No. i of Polled Herd 

 Book, which was exhibited at the Society's show at Aber- 

 deen in 1858, and then recorded as thirty-four years old. 



Ayrshires were in fair numbers. In the bull classes, 

 all the honours went to A. W. Buttery, Monkland, who also 

 carried first prize for best cow in milk ; the prize for best 

 cow in calf going to A. IM'Lachlan, East Longhaugh, 

 Renfrewshire. The bulls were considered good. Cows in 

 milk were good, though deficient in weight ; while those in 

 calf were pronounced ' generally wanting in shape, con- 

 dition, and weight.' 



' Considering the proximity of the show to some of the 

 best breeding districts for Highland cattle, the exhibition 

 of this class (West Highland) did not in point of extent 

 realize what was anticipated.' So says the official report. 

 The prize for best aged bull was won by Lord Colonsay, 

 Lord Justice General ; the prize for two-year-olds going 

 to John IMacdonald, Inverlochlang, Lochearnhead. The 

 Marquis of Breadalbane won the prize for best cow, the 

 second going to Neil Malcolm of Poltalloch. The Direc- 

 tors' report pronounces the aged bulls inferior ; the rest of 

 the stock were equal to former occasions ; but the Directors 

 note that ' it is much to be regretted that recent shows 

 have not exhibited that progress in this interesting and 

 valuable native breed which characterises stock of other 

 descriptions.' 



Of the Fife breed only five bulls, five cows, and four 

 heifers were exhibited. The official report remarks that 

 'it is a question with many judges whether the Fifeshire 

 breed exists in a pure state ; if so, its numbers are insig- 



