THE SOMERFORD HERD. 259 



me that this was usual in the males when they had their 

 full coats. The colour was pure white ; the ears, rims 

 of the eyes, muzzle, and hoofs heing quite black. There 

 were a few black spots on the fetlocks of the two fore- 

 legs, and immediately above the bare black skin of the 

 muzzle was a strong, deep black line, perhaps an inch 

 wide ; and immediately above it, clustering together, 

 there were a few small black spots, so clearly defined 

 that my friend mistook them for flies, which they 

 looked much like. This bull had no black spots else- 

 where. 



I have described this animal particularly, because I 

 consider that he fairly represents the ancient character 

 of the herd. From Sir Charles's remarks, and still 

 more from those of the bailiff, I am satisfied that these 

 cattle were much more uniformly pure white, with only 

 the ordinary black points, than they are at present. 

 Like all other old herds of the Forest breed of white 

 cattle, they have a strong tendency to produce small 

 black spots on the neck, sides, and legs ; and this the 

 proprietors admire and encourage : many of them have 

 therefore become more or less speckled. The young bull- 

 calf, reserved for future use, is very decidedly marked 

 with black spots, and has a good deal of black on all 

 four legs. He is a very excellent young animal, very 

 good in all his points, and, except in colour, would pass 

 muster in any Short-horn herd. His fore-quarters and 

 breast were unimpeachable ; his touch soft and good, 

 with plenty of pelt; and he had abundance of long, 

 straight hair, not particularly mossy in character. 



The heifer-calf, a week old, we saw next : it was 

 very pretty, and, except the usual points, was pure white 

 without spots. This was the only one that showed any 

 r 2 



