THE ALDERNEYS. 129 



the ear sizable, thin, and quick in movement. The wliole head 

 is original, and blood-like in appearance — more so, than in almost 

 any other of the cattle race — reminding one strongly of the head 

 of our American Elk. The neck is somewhat depressed — would 

 be called "ewe-necked," by some — but clean in the throat, with 

 moderate, or little dewlap ; the shoulders are wide and some- 

 what ragged, with prominent points, running down to a delicate 

 arm, and slender legs beneath ; the fore-quarters stand ratlx-r 

 close together, with a thinnish, yet well developed brisket 

 between; the ribs are flat, yet giving sufficient play for good 

 lungs; the back depressed, and somewhat hollow; the belly 

 deep and large; the hips tolerably wide; the rump and tail high; 

 the loin and quarter medium in length ; the thigh thin and deep ; 

 the twist wide, to accommodate a clean, good sized udder; the 

 flanks medium; the hocks, or gambrel joints crooked; the hind 

 legs small; the udder capacious, square, set well forward, and 

 covered with soft, silky hair; the teats fine, standing well apart, 

 and nicely tapering ; the milk veins prominent. On the whole 

 she is a homely, blood like, gentle, useful little housekeeping 

 body, with a most kindly temper, loving to be petted, and, like 

 the "pony,'' with the children, readily becomes a great favorite 

 with those who have her about them, either in pasture, paddock, 

 or stable. The colors are usually light red, or fawn, occasion- 

 ally smoky grey, and sometimes black, mixed or plashed more or 

 less with white. Eoan colors, and a more rounded form, are 

 now and then seen among them, but we do not like them, (as 

 they savor of a short-horn cross, which they should not have, ) 

 as anything but their own blood and figure, and that of the 

 ancient stock, deteriorates them — as Alderneys. The Guernsey 

 cows are usually somewhat larger and coarser than the Jerseys, 

 and Alderneys, showing more the rotundity and symmetry 

 approaching tlie shorthorns. So we have sometimes seen 

 them. 



