386 



CATTLE 



to an undated letter written by Professor Ananias, in charge of 

 agriculture in Les Vauxbelets Agricultural School, Guernsey, in 

 which it is said that the monks of that institution have especially 

 investigated the origin of the cattle of the island. The most 

 prominent ancestor is the Brittany breed called Froment du Leon, 

 which is much smaller than the present Guernsey, but possesses 

 the same distinct markings — namely, red and white, fawn and 

 white, etc. — and is naturally very active. The other source was 

 the brindle cattle of Normandy, which were much heavier than 



Fig. 165. A view on the dock at St. Peter Port, Guernsey. This shows a line of 



vehicles awaiting turn unloading fruits and vegetables on the steamer for England. 



From photograph by the author 



the modern Guernsey or the old Froment du Leon but which 

 produced a heavy yield of rich milk, often sixty to seventy pounds 

 daily. The brindle marks and black noses occasionally seen with 

 Guernseys are supposed to be reversions to the old Normandy 

 cattle. These two breeds of cattle, it is assumed, were taken 

 to Guernsey centuries ago, and from the commingling of their 

 blood, followed by careful selection, has been derived the modern 

 breed of Guernsey. The cattle of Brittany or Normandy to-day, 

 based on the author's observation, present little suggestion of the 

 Guernsey. The cattle on Alderney must have come from the 

 same source, and in fact for many years the cattle imported to 



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