128 Cattle Problems. 



The Devons. 



The North Devonshire, or Devon Cattle, are remarkable 

 for their muscu'.arity, fine forms, and also for their strong 

 vitality, as shown in their power of reproducing their own 

 form, color, and general characteristics in their pirogeny or 

 their grades. They are also famous for their power and 

 activity as working cattle wherever known, their working 

 ability being a consequence of superior muscular develop- 

 ment. The natural combinations giving rise to their fine 

 red color are not clearly known ; but their color being es- 

 tabli.shed by natural agencies, and, noticed as it wa,s sure 

 to be by observing cattle men, was concentrated and handed 

 down by selection and inheritance. 



The Devons, as to their distinctive characteristics, 

 are very ancient, and none of their qualities are derived 

 from any known breed, as they have never shown occasion 

 for improvement by crossing. And, in fact, their muscu- 

 larity and constitutional vigor are so naturally fixed and 

 perfect that crossing would be more likely to injure than 

 to improve them. Next to their beauty and uniformity of 

 color, their compact, full, and well-proportioned muscu- 

 larity, is the leading characteristic of Devon cattle. 



Originating some centuries ago, before improved grasses 

 and pastures were established, the wild grasses were thinly 

 scattered, affording them only scant feed, and occasioning 

 much necessary exercise in searching for and gathering 

 their subsistence. By such natural exercise, continued 

 through many ages, and very many generations, the full 

 muscles of the breed have been developed and compacted; 

 and so of their bones, till each bears a due proportion to 

 the other^ and both to the size of the cattle in all parts of 

 their frame-work and growth. 



Their circulation and reproductive power are as full and 

 perfect as their vital growth, their breeding power being 



