DOMESTICATED BRITISH CATTLE 113 
shires was crossed with the West Highland breed 
in or about the year 1818 ; while Devon and Hereford 
crosses are stated to have been resorted to by other 
breeders. About the year 1780 the original black 
and white colouring seems to have been exchanged 
for red and white, this being replaced a few years 
later by brown and white, although in 18 10 it once 
more regained favour. 
Ayrshire cattle are of medium size, with somewhat 
more tendency to flesh than certain other dairy 
breeds. Their colours include red, brown, and 
white in varying proportions, some being almost or 
completely red, others brown and white, and yet 
others white and red. The whitish horns are black 
at the tips, curve upwards and outwards, and 
generally, but more especially in cows, show a back- 
ward turn at their extremities. Their size depends 
to a large extent on local taste and fashion. The 
depth of the body is considerable in many animals, 
with a proportionate shortness of limb. A home- 
bred Ayrshire cow should average about 1000 lb. 
in weight, and should yield about twelve quarts of 
milk — of average quality — daily. 
Ayrshires appear to have been first introduced 
into America early in the nineteenth century by 
Scottish farmers who settled in Canada. 
The last breed which can by courtesy be ranked as 
British is that of the Channel Islands ; but these 
cattle can only be called British in the sense that 
they are reared in territory forming a portion of the 
United Kingdom, for in all their characters, especially 
the presence of pale fawn or dun and silver-grey, 
they differ essentially from the breeds of the British 
8 
