THE ABERDEEN-ANGUS 293 



not secured so strong a foothold as the Hereford, but his grade 

 progeny is thick-fleshed, short of leg, fast-maturing, a good 

 feeder, and kills the equal of anything in the market. It will be 

 fortunate for our beef-cattle interests when more Aberdeen-Angus 

 males are used to grade up common herds. 



Aberdeen-Angus families make up a considerable list. Each 

 family is descended from a cow that is regarded as its founder. 

 Branches occur in these famiUes, due to lines of breeding often 

 undertaken in other herds than that from which the family came. 

 An effort has been made by prominent breeders to discourage 

 emphasizing certain families at the expense of others, but with 

 none too much success. The following families have been re- 

 garded with special favor, especially in America. 



The Erica family descends from Erica (843) 181, a cow that 

 was bought in 1861 by Sir George Macpherson Grant at the 

 Earl of Southesk's sale. She was by Cupbearer (59), a grandson 

 of Old Jock (i), and her dam Emily (332) was also by Old Jock 

 (i). Emily was out of Beauty, bred by Hugh Watson. Erica 

 (843) is described as " not a very large cow, but standing on 

 very short legs and having a lovely feminine head and splendid 

 quality." She was the dam of three sons : Cupbearer of Ballin- 

 dalloch (658), Exciseman (473), and Elcho (595) ; and of four 

 daughters: Erica 2d (1284) by Chieftain (318), Eisa (977) by 

 Trojan (402), Enchantress (981) by Trojan (402), and Elba 

 (1205) by Kildonan (405). From these four cows this family and 

 its branches trace the most notable line developed at Ballindal- 

 loch, possibly the most popular among Aberdeen-Angus breeders. 

 Three branches of Ericas descended from these four daughters 

 are known respectively as Chieftain-Ericas, Trojan-Ericas, and 

 Kildonan- Ericas. In 1910 Macdonald and Sinclair wrote : "No 

 family of polled cattle has in recent years taken a more distin- 

 guished position in the $how yard than the Ballindalloch Ericas. 

 Since 1870 they have not been absent from the prize lists of 

 the Highland Society's shows excepting on two occasions." 

 Young Viscount 181, perhaps the greatest bull of the breed, was 

 a grandson of Erica 2d through her daughter Erica 3d (1249). 



The Queen Mother family derives its name from Queen Mother 

 (■^a8) 41 the founder of this line. She was calved in 1843, 

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