POINTS OF THE SOMERFORD CATTLE. 261 



distinct and clear, so that they could be seen at a con- 

 siderable distance — they were very few in number. It 

 must also be borne in mind that early in August, when 

 I saw them, a cow's hair is shorter and sleeker than at 

 most other times of the year, and that these spots would 

 not have been nearly so visible when the cows had on 

 them their full natural coat of hair. Three cows were 

 pure white, or very nearly so. In all there was a cer- 

 tain amount of actual black, or of black spots, imme- 

 diately above the hoof on the front part of the fore-leg ; 

 and in all there was a line, as in the bull, of about an 

 inch wide, of jet-black hair round the jet-black muzzle — 

 the line of demarcation between this and the white hair 

 of the face being very distinct, and the contrast particu- 

 larly striking. In some of the cows the teats were all 

 black, the udder itself being white ; in others they 

 were about half black, the extremities being of that 

 colour. The tails Were all white. 



It is remarkable that, notwithstanding the strong 

 pre-disposition to produce black spots, black calves very 

 seldom appear — not nearly so often as at Chartley. The 

 bailiff tells me that during the twenty years he has had 

 charge of the herd this has only occurred twice. 



The description of the bull as to form applies also 

 to the cows, except that they were somewhat neater in 

 their hind quarters. Their worst point was that some — 

 but by no means all of them — drooped a little in the 

 centre of the back. Their grand point was the fore 

 quarter ; they had shoulders which Sir Charles Knight- 

 ley would have envied. For females in milk, the neck 

 was unusually good and well up, and upon it was 

 beautifully set a charming, blood-like female head — 

 comparatively short, but very wide across the eyes and 



