TJie Agricultural Features of the Paris Exhibition. 223 
shoulder, and good under-line. The first-prize cow was one of 
the best in the Section, large, even, and well covered with flesh ; 
but flat in the rib, and not sweet about the head and horn. The 
Nantais variety seemed the smallest in stature, but rather the 
neatest. The muzzles, as a rule, were black, the horns black at 
the point, and the ears long. 
Tarentais. — This race belongs to the mountains of the Taren- 
taise (Alps), and, like most other mountain races, is distinguished 
for its powers of endurance. The cows are also good milkers ; 
but to the butcher this variety possesses very moderate value. 
The colour is usually light grey, the bulls being described as 
" badger grey." The Section contained 52 entries and presented 
remarkable similarity of colour and general characteristic. Of 
moderate size, the animals stood on short limbs, showed firm 
build and plenty of muscle. The muzzle was perfectly black ; the 
eye large and mild ; horns short, thick and black ; the neck thick 
and sometimes developed into a high buffalo-crest, and the body 
even and round ; skin very thick ; rough high tail-head ; and the 
shoulders often prominent. Some had deficient quarters and 
thighs, others flat ribs, and most of them wanted quality and 
fineness of bone. Several of the females were neat in form and 
lively in gait, and handled fairly well. 
■ Breton. — This is one of the most numerous breeds of cattle in 
France. It is also one of the most valuable ; and it is stated that 
the inhabitants of the Province of Brittany, which of course is 
the home of the breed, are more dependent upon the produce of 
cattle than those of any other province in the nation. The pure 
Brittany cattle are very small in size, but very thick and fleshy ; 
white and black in colour ; head short, neck thick, and altogether 
their appearance is somewhat dumpy. Their most notable 
feature is their wonderful milking properties. The quantity 
given per day is not very large, not over seven quarts from a 
newly-calved cow, but the yield of butter is exceptionally high. 
The yield of milk sometimes exceeds seven quarts per day, but 
in these cases the quality is usually not quite so rich. Attempts 
have been made to increase the size and otherwise improve the 
Breton cattle by infusions of Ayrshire and Jersey blood ; but 
the results were not satisfactory. The Shorthorn was next tried, 
and in this case the success was most gratifying. The size and 
general value of the breed as beef-producing animals were greatly 
increased, while the milking properties were but very slightly 
disturbed. Where sufficient food can be raised to do justice to 
the animals the Shorthorn crosses have become very popular, and 
year by year they are growing in favour. A large portion of 
Brittany is bleak and very cold in winter ; and in these parts 
the crosses do not thrive so well as the native breed, which, 
