2S 



HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



ed the mofl valuable at that time in the kingdom. From 

 this breed, Mr Bakewell obtained the fource of his pre- 

 fent fuperior (lock of cattle; and feveral other eminent 

 breeders are alfo indebted to the fame origin, for the ce- 

 lebrity they have iince attained. 



The rapid improvements which have taken place in 

 this truly valuable Leicefterfhire breed, form an intereft- 

 ing fubjetl: of enquiry ; of which, the limits of our work 

 will only allow us to give the outlines. We have, how- 

 ever, noticed the general principles which have been laid 

 down, and fteadily adhered to, in the improvement of 

 the feveral breeds of cattle ; and which have been fo fuc- 

 cefsfully brought into practice. The firft, and mod ob- 

 vious, is beauty of form, — a principle, which has been 

 in common applied to every fpecies of domeftic cattle; 

 and, with great feeming propriety, was fuppofed to form 

 the bafis of every kind of improvement ; under an idea, 

 that beauty of form, and utility, were infeparable. But 

 at prefent, a diftincliion is made, by men who have 

 been long converfant in practice, between a ufeful fort, 

 and a fort that is merely handfome. Utility of form is 

 therefore the next general principle, and may be confi- 

 dered as arifing from a larger proportion of thofe parts 

 which are the molt ufeful : Thus, for inftance, all thofe 

 parts which are deemed offal, or which bear an inferior 

 price, fhould be fmall in proportion to the better parts. 

 A third principle of improvement, laid down by breeders, 

 conftfts in the fmenefs of $he mufcular parts, or what is 

 termed jlejh. But the great object which engrofles the 

 attention of breeders at prefent, is the fatting quality, or 

 a natural propenfity in cattle to arrive at a ftate of fat- 

 nefs at an early age, and in a fhort fpace of time : And 

 it appears, from obfervation, that beauty and utility of 



