122 THE OX AND ITS KINDRED 
been pointed out by Dr. Max Hilzheimer/ who states 
that these cattle are of medium size, with a median 
white stripe, expanding into a patch on the rump, a 
similar streak on the under surface of the body, and 
a white tail. The neck and sides of the body are 
mostly black, the dark colour being sharply, although 
irregularly, defined from the black. The face is 
generally white, with black spots, and black patches 
round the eyes ; but may be black with a white fore- 
head, although never wholly black. Very generally 
the limbs are white above and black below on their 
outer surfaces. A characteristic feature of these cattle 
is the presence of black spots or patches on the 
white areas. The muzzle, eyelids, hoofs, and horns 
are black, the former being rather long and directed 
forwards, with the tip-to-tip forming the widest span. 
The forehead is broader than long, and sharply dis- 
tinguished from the lower part of the face : in bulls 
the forehead is rather longer than the lower part of 
the face, but in cows the two are equal. Between the 
eyes is a hollow, almost deep enough to contain the 
closed fist. In some individuals the general colour is 
blackish red, with the dorsal streak yellowish red. 
These cattle belong to a short-headed type — which 
is common among German and French breeds — and 
thereby differ markedly from the breeds with a long 
forehead. The dark spots and patches on the white 
areas are a feature common to the above-mentioned 
Dutch and South German cattle, as is also the white 
dorsal streak. In the opinion of Dr. Hilzheimer, the 
Vosges cattle represent an ancient indigenous breed, 
which formerly had a much wider range. There is, 
^ " Das Vogeseniind und das Schlettstadter Pferd," Mitt. Philom. 
Ges. Elsass-Lothringai^ vol. iii. p. 368, 1906, 
