THE PKIDES OF ABERDEEN. 359 



prize cow at the Highland Society's shows ; she gained 

 the challenge cup at Aberdeen; and she was the first-prize 

 cow at the International show at Battersea in 1862, 

 where she beat her dam Charlotte, and was referred to 

 as being, with Mr Eichard Booth's celebrated Shorthorn 

 cow Queen of the Ocean — designated by Mr Carr, the 

 historian of the Booth Shorthorns, " a superb Shorthorn, a 

 queen of cows " — the best female animal on the ground. 

 Nor was this aU. Pride of Aberdeen must have possessed, 

 along with the most perfect shapes and quality, an 

 extraordinary constitution. Few females of any breed 

 have been able to stand three years of the forcing process 

 necessary to keep in the front rank in the show-yard, and 

 crown a career of unsurpassed success in exhibition, by no 

 less distinguished performances as a breeder. Pride of 

 Aberdeen produced seven female calves and four male 

 calves that have been registered. The bulls were useful 

 in the herds to which they were introduced, while from 

 each of the females has sprung a race of valuable cattle. 



An examination of the circumstances therefore proves 

 that it was no mere fancy that led Mr M'Combie to main- 

 tain that the Pride of Aberdeen family was the most 

 precious branch of the Queen tribe. The favour in which 

 the Prides are regarded has certainly not been gained by 

 that rarity which results from infecundity. We have 

 counted the number of female descendants of Pride of 

 Aberdeen 581 registered in vols, ii., iiL, iv., v., and vi. of 

 the ' Herd Book,' and find there are no fewer than 78. 

 The estimation in which the Prides are held by breeders 

 is illustrated by the fact that nine of the best representa- 

 tives of the family sold publicly, in 1880 and 1881, 

 realized an average of £140 each, one cow (Mr. Auld's 

 Pride of Aberdeen 9th) bringing £283, 10s. 



The Prides are distinguished in individual appearance 

 by long, square, handsome frames, length of qiiarter, 

 great size, substance, and wealth of flesh ; while they are 



