Tlie Agricultural Features of the Paris Exhibition. 
177 
bovine race there was room for contrast, room for numerous 
grades of development, room for animals, good, bad, and in- 
different. Comparisons are sometimes odious ; here they were 
often instructive, sometimes amusing. It was both tempting 
and entertaining to institute comparisons, to pass from class to 
class, and contrast one breed with another — the gay handsome 
Shorthorn with the light-waisted, low-loined, many-shaped, 
Pyrenean breeds ; the sleek black Polls with the symmetrical 
white Charolais ; the massive, powerful-looking Limousin with 
the tiny Kerry ; the clumsy, thick-necked Swiss with the slim 
Fleming, the plump three-feet-high Breton with the tall blue 
Italian. Then among the fleecy and porcine tribes the contrasts 
were scarcely less amusing, and every whit as instructive. It 
may be explained that in each of the three departments there 
were two divisions, namely a " Foreign Division," open to 
nations other than France ; and a " Home Division," confined 
to French exhibitors. We shall begin, as the Catalogue does, 
with the "Foreign Division," and, like it also, speak first of 
British cattle. 
English Breeds. 
Shorthor?is. — Of this justly popular breed England and Ire- 
land contributed 42 entries. Several of these, however, includ- 
ing the Irish, failed to put in an appearance. Both the classes 
of bulls were rather indifferently filled as regards quality. In 
neither of the male classes was the merit so high as one sees 
usually at an open show in this country. First and third in the 
younger bull class were a pair of moderate specimens from 
Flanders. Shorthorns from other countries foreign to France 
competed with English animals of the breed, but, except in this 
class, they made little of it. Lady Pigot — whose exhibits we 
have often seen in better bloom — got second worthily with 
" IVobilis," a nineteen-month-old roan, son of " Royal Com- 
mander," out of " Victoria Gloriosa," whose name indicates the 
tribe to which she belongs. " Nobilis," though thus very 
well bred, can hardly be called a bull of first-class Showy ard 
form. He was bred by the exhibitor, and may improve with 
age. 
The class of bulls between two and four years was rather 
better filled than the younger one. With a pair of good useful 
whites, England got first and second honours. Lady Pigot had 
here also to be contented with a second ticket. Her Ladyship's 
exhibit was "The Beau," a two-year-and-five-month bull, bred 
in the West Hall herd, after " Damon," now at Coulardbank, 
Morayshire, and out of "Mary Belle." "The Beau" is big 
for his age, with plenty of masculine character, and no lack of 
VOL. XV. — s. S. N 
