CHAPTER II. 



Allied Races of White Cattle — Prejudice against White unfounded — Antiquity 

 of the Colour— White preferred for religious Ceremonies and Festivals — 

 White Cattle imported for such Purposes from the native Country of the 

 TJrus — No Authority for the Opinion that the Urus was Black — The Augs- 

 burg Picture — Apparent Connection between the Urus and various domestic 

 Races of White Cattle — The Charolais Breed — The Friesland Ox — Holstein 

 Cattle — Hungarian— Transylvanian — Cattle of the Russian Steppes — British 

 Wild Cattle similar in all important Characteristics— All probably descended 

 from the ancient Urus. 



In entering upon the subject of white in cattle, espe- 

 cially as regards domestic races, I am quite aware 

 that I expose myself to many adverse opinions, for on 

 this point " quot homines, tot sententice ; " but it is a 

 subject into which I am compelled to enter, for its 

 colour has always been the prime distinguishing 

 characteristic of the white forest breed of Great Britain. 

 That colour, retained universally, and for so long a time, 

 plainly indicates its antiquity, and may perhaps give 

 some clue to its origin. I fear I shall shock the 

 breeder, English, Scottish, or Welsh; for he for ages has 

 been endeavouring to eradicate white, and to breed his 

 cattle black, red, or only with so little white as may be 

 necessary to produce a white face, or a body slightly 

 flecked with this colour. From the Land's End to John 

 o' Groat's, from Yarmouth to Haverfordwest — and you 

 may cross over the Channel, and take Ireland too — the 

 white cow is despised, and charged with delicacy ; yet 

 here are these ancient British herds — some wild, some 



