CHAPTER V 
DOMESTICATED BRITISH CATTLE 
THE British Islands have long been celebrated 
for the excellence of their cattle, of which, 
apart from those of the parks and Channel Islands, 
seventeen more or less distinct breeds were recognised 
by Low in his Domesticated A?iiinals of the British 
Islands, while a few have been established subse- 
quently. The most primitive breeds are found in 
the Shetlands, the Scottish Highlands, Wales, and 
Ireland, these being of relatively small size ; while 
specialised, and for the most part large, breeds are 
mainly characteristic of the midland and southern 
districts of England. Some at least of these larger 
breeds are believed by Professor Hughes^ to have 
originated from Friesland cattle and other long- 
horned breeds from Jutland and the lower part of the 
valley of the Elbe, which are said to have been 
imported during the fifth century onwards. Be this 
as it may, the modern British breeds are all more 
or less distinct from those of the Continent ; and the 
difference between the extreme types is so great that, 
if they were wild, in place of domesticated, animals, 
many of them would undoubtedly be entitled to rank 
as distinct species. In the Highlands of Scotland 
^ Airhaologia, vol. Iv. p. 30. 
