798 Derivation of the Domestic Polled Breeds. 
mainly, no doubt, to improve the milking qualities of the breed, as 
well as to do away with the horns. Since then this old Norfolk 
breed seems to have died out. But the old Suffolk breed survives 
pure in one peculiar variety—a cow of golden yellow. Of course 
there are various shades of this color, but the real golden yellow is, 
to my mind, the most beautiful of all colors; it is sometimes seen 
in horses, though but very rarely. Indeed, I do not recollect to 
have seen more than three or four in the course of my life. How- 
ever, this color is not popular in cows of the Red Polled breed, nor, 
indeed, I believe, among Short-horns. Perhaps the reason for this - 
is that a pale washed-out yellow, which often occurs, gives a feeble 
look to an animal. i 
“Of the old Suffolk breed, no one pretends to have traced the 
origin. Perhaps, in some future day, some of the numerous old 
manuscripts that are being reproduced in print may throw some 
light on the history of this animal—at present it is purely conjec- 
tural. The balance of probability would point to this kind of 
cattle being derived from the old white breed with black or red 
ears and muzzles. Polled cattle of this description were formerly 
to be found in various parts of Suffolk and Norfolk, and some small 
remnants remain to this day. The transition from white to yellow 
would not appear to be difficult. The pictures of J. Ward, the 
eminent cattle and landscape painter, furnish numerous instances of 
the prevalence of this breed, both polled and horned varieties, 
whether from an artistic preference, or from an actual preponder- 
ance of the type, it is hard to say. I have, myself, two oil paintings 
by this master, one of which contains a polled and the other a 
horned cow of the white breed, with red muzzle and ears. The 
breed with black ears and muzzles and more striking in appearance 
from the strong contrast in color; indeed, it is hardly possible to 
find anything prettier than a young calf of this kind. In the 
National Gallery there is a large landscape of a Yorkshire scau!, 
with groups of cattle. In the foreground stands a white bull of 
very massive proportions, ears and muzzle being of a light red. 2 
“The earliest descriptions of Suffolk cattle speak of them as, 
various colors, some cream or yellow, some brindled; others, again, 
as red; some as mouse-colored, or a kind of blue, but none of ap 
as black—in this respect differing from the Scotch Kyloes, onos 
