40 THE JERSEY, ALDERNEY AND GUERNSEY COW, 



ing interested in the breed, and are creating a factitious 

 enthusiasm for certain points of only fancy value, there 

 is great danger that those characteristics on which the 

 permanent worth and popularity of the race depend will 

 be lost sight of. The idea that it is desired to convey 

 cannot be more clearly illustrated than by referring to 

 the matter of black points. A few years ago, black 

 points were unheard of as an important feature. Now 

 a very large majority of those who have recently be- 

 come interested in the subject regard a black switch 

 and a black tongue as almost indispensable qualifica- 

 tions. The Herd Book published on the Island of Jer- 

 sey contains the entries of 124 bulls and 474 cows ; 41 

 of the bulls and 106 cows are *H. Q! (highly com- 

 mended). Of these 147 animals, 24 are said to have 

 black switches, and only one to have a black tongue. 

 So, too, with regard to color. * Solid' color is with 

 many regarded as indispensable to perfection.' Of the 

 147 * H. C* bulls and cows, only 45 are of solid color or 

 nearly so. These indications, like the much larger 

 number of white switches and white patches, are given, 

 not at all as being of special advantage, but merely as 

 distinguishing marks to serve for the identification of 

 the animals. 



" That a decided injury has been done by those who 

 attach more importance to black switches than to good 

 udders, to solid color than to large milk mirrors, must 

 be evident to all who have had an opportunity of com- 

 paring the older with the newer herds— animals that 



