Character in Old Breeds. 133 



viously known as the Tecswaicrs, showing several changes 

 in name, while there liave also been changes in style, form, 

 and color. The origin of color cannot be traced beyond 

 the influence of transmission. In consequence of many 

 modifications, the Short-horns are plastic in constitution. 

 As they stand, the character of the breed is somewhat 

 varied, which is due to influences that are unimportant. 

 They are eminently the breed of wealthy amateurs, as — 

 while they are not suited to common, or scant food, or to 

 poor or thin soils — they do well where feed is rich and 

 abundant, where there is but little exposure. In Ohio, 

 Kentucky, and Illinois, where bone-forming material is 

 abundant in the blue grass pastures, the Short-horns be- 

 come large in frame, fine in figure, and picturesque in ap- 

 pearance. But circumstances alter cases; for, on the dry 

 ranges of California, where the grass is only scattering, 

 several herds of Short-horns have been subject to different 

 local influences — without either blue grass or abundance 

 of any kind of feed — the result being that they have been 

 reduced to about the size of the Ayrshires, while their mus- 

 cular proportion is much increased, as shown in their 

 rounded low forms, and activity. In fact, their increased 

 activity in quest of necessary food has developed corres- 

 ponding muscularity, which shows an improvement in the 

 chief source of vigor and breeding power; while it emi- 

 nently proves the influence of activity as the natural means 

 of increasing or restoring muscular proportion and con- 

 stitutional power ; either to endure necessary exposure 

 without injury, or as the basis of reproductive ability and 

 food value. 



The Herefords, 



now being considerably diffused in the West — are a very an- 

 cient breed, thought by some to be from the same ancestry as 

 the Devons, which breed they resemble in muscularity and 



