Wilson — The Origin of the Kerry-Dexter Breed of Cattle. 17 



After all, wliat is the probable origin of the word ' dexter' ? An author, 

 " while travelling in Kerry some years ago, found that the word ' dexter ' 

 was used in a generic sense with reference to all diminutive animals, even 

 men, if low-set and bandy-legged ; and also that the term was in the first 

 instance applied to short-legged sheep kept by a resident coastguard officer."' 

 Murray's Dictionary gives no indication of the word being used in the above 

 sense. But the original Mr. Dexter was a breeder of Leicester sheep which, 

 in comparison with the native Irish sheep, were short-legged and stout. 

 It is said sheep bred by Mr. Dexter were called " Dexters." Did uot the 

 word pass on from Mr. Dexter's sheep to other stout animals, and even to 

 men? 



The Secretary of tlie Royal Agricultural Society of England has very 

 kindly arranged to allow the use of the blocks of the Devon bull and cow in. 

 illustrating this paper. 



' Wallace's Farm Lire Stock of Great Britain, 1907, page 205. 



SCIENT. PK^C. R.D.S., VOL. XU., NO, T. 



