Wilson — The Colours of Highland Cattle. 73 



the " Longhorn Herd Book " shows these phims to be tlie progeny of 

 two briiulles; which, in turn, shows plum to have been one of the parents 

 of brindle : red usually having been the otlier. Among the Jerseys there 

 are " browns," " dark browns," " mulberrys," and " rare specimens which 

 are more or less black."' Writing in 1812, Qaayle' says that, among other 

 colours, tliere were '' black with dingy brown-red about tlie nostrils and 

 on the back-ridge," and also " black and white." Among pure-bred Jerseys 

 briudles are not unknown ; and, when these dark-coloured ones are crossed 

 with red cattle, as, for instance, the Sussex breed, a very large proportion, if 

 not all, the calves are briudles. Is there any corresponding colour among 

 Highlanders ; and, if so, is there any evidence that this colour ever produced 

 briudles when mated with reds or any other Highland colour, or that this 

 colour was ever produced wlien briudles were mated together ? On tliese 

 points an experienced breeder who was applied to for information as to the 

 preference for certain colours writes : — "In the case of the greater number 

 of farmers who have pure-bred herds, they as a rule do not enter all their 

 calves ; and more so regarding blacks, and blacks with a brown strip along 

 the back and a tan muzzle, which colour is not at all fancied. As a rule 

 when two dark briudles are mated, the produce comes nearly black, but not 

 a pure black : a black with tan markings, as mentioned. Tliese are as a 

 rule not kept for breeding, unless in the ease of a heifer of exceptional merit ; 

 and it is entered into the ' Herd Book ' as a brindle, but it is to all 

 appearance a black." In Gaelic this colour is called donn. 



As yet, it does not seem possible to get absolute contirmation from 

 the " Herd Book " — tlie registration of reds and brindles being so unsatis- 

 factory — but that the theory explains the " Herd Book " records as to the 

 behaviour of brindles when mated witii their own colour and with reds ; 

 and that brindles are also produced when dark-coloured Longhorns and 

 Jerseys are mated with red, is highly presumptive evidence. But there 

 are several kinds of brindles. Among the Highlanders there are dark 

 brindles, light brindles, black brindles, red brindles, yellow brindles, and 

 dun brindles : practically the same as those among the Longhorns, viz., 

 plum, dark, light, red, spotted, yellow, and dun. What is the source of 

 these ? 



So far we can only suggest that the blackish-brown colour common to 

 Highlanders, Longhorns, and Jerseys produces a brindle hybrid when 

 crossed witli any of the three colours, black, red, and light dun. That 



' "Wallace's "Live Stock of Great Britain," 1893 edition, p. 77. 

 - " General View of the Agriculture, &c., of the Islands on the Coast of Normandy." 

 SCLENT. PBGC. R.D.S., VOL. XII., NO. VIII. O 



