30 EARLY HISTORY OF ABERDEEN OR ANGUS CATTLE. 



as a museum for the preservation of these wonderful relics 

 of prehistoric times. After examining it carefully, I am 

 not satisiied that the two cattle depicted on it represent 

 hornless animals. Judging from the engraving alone, I 

 believed that the cattle represented were polls; but the 

 artist has not adhered strictly to particulars in his draw- 

 ing, as any one may see who compares it with the stone. 

 In the same volume there are other representations of 

 cattle, apparently polled, but I have not had an oppor- 

 tunity of comparing the drawings with the originals." 



The same writer states that in an old MS. account-book 

 belonging to Mr. G. B. Simpson, Broughty-Ferry, Dundee, 

 commenced in 1683 by Mr Grahame of Balmuir, Kincal- 

 drum, Dryborough, Duntrune, Powrie, and Meathie, the 

 following among many other entries of cattle transactions 

 occur: "Account of oxn bought June 9th, 1752. — To 

 one humble oax from James Cramond, at 30 [pound Scots, 

 value Is. 8d. sterling] ; to for 5 oxn at Monifith, at 34, 

 170 ; to 3 at Forfar, at 28, 84; to a branded oax, at 37 ; 

 to a coy at Monifith, at 22 ; to ane oax at Methie, at 50 ; 

 to ane oax at Methie, at 36." A little further on this 

 entry is found : " June 14th, 1757 — bought at Tealing 

 roup, a two-year-old quach doded, at 26, 12 ; a yellow 

 qugh, one-year-old, at 21,6; a black D, one-year-old, at 

 17, 16 ; a yelow stot, one-year-old, 22, 6 ; a black quach 

 calf, at 12, 8; a yelow stot calf, at 17, 6." Another entry 

 in 1757 gives a list of the stock then on Balmuir: "10 

 oxen in the plew ; 6 hors and 2 stags (staigs) ; 2 dodeds ; 

 4 at calf-time ; 4 three-year-olds ; 2 year-old stots ; 3 three - 

 year-old quaes ; 5 year-old quaes ; 2 calf stots ; a cow." 

 INIr Lyell, who has evidently examined carefully Ochter- 

 lony's description of Angus in 1684-85, as well as other 

 early records of rural matters in Angus, says " the humble 

 ox from James Cramond is the first mention of a polled 

 beast " he had discovered. He seems, however, to think 

 it probable that the " excellent breeds " which, according 



