Report on the Exhibition of Live-Stock at Preston, 1885. 655 
that the several classes had specimens in them to very fairly represent the 
character of this ancient and popular breed of cattle. Whilst being of 
opinion that the correct type and character of the thoroughbred Devons were 
more noticeable in the male animals of Sir W. Williams, Bart., and Mr. Perry, 
as well as in the female exhibits of the former, we still regard with great 
favour the animals shown by Messrs. Skinner and Howse. Indeed, we con- 
sider the young bull, " General Gordon," shown by the former gentleman, an 
animal of great promise, and likely to be heard of again as a prize-winner. 
Neither can we pass over the " fashionable," though rather diminutive heifer 
of Mr. Walter, whilst Her Majesty's in the same, and Mr. Surridge's in the 
Older Class, are animals possessing much excellence. 
In reverting to the number of entries being below par, we think this may 
be accounted for in some measure from the long distance from home ; besides 
being impressed with the idea of placing the four ages of male animals in 
competition, and altogether excluding the female over three years and seven 
months, necessarily lessened competition, and, not imreasonably we think, 
caused dissatisfaction among the breeders, in depriving them of the ojiportunity 
to exhibit an animal which is obviously the brightest and most fascinating 
production of their herd — namely, the fully-matured cow, which has been 
spoken of in the Society's ' Journal ' on former occasions as claiming as great 
attention on the parade as any pure-bred mother in the Yard. 
With these impressions, we venture to suggest to the Council's considera- 
tion whether a return to former arrangements may not be conducive to the 
Society's interest, and be more satisfactory to the exhibitors. 
S. P. Newbury. 
Charles Ellis. 
Egbert C. Cooke. 
Sussex. 
In the Classes for Sussex only 22 entries were made, and of 
these 8 were absent ; but the show of these dark beauties is not 
without interest to those who remember animals of this breed 
at the Smithfield Shows of twenty-five years ago ; and it may 
be safely asserted that, by whatever means accomplished, there 
is no breed of cattle more improved in quality and aptitude to 
fatten than these denizens of the Downs. Instead of the large 
limbs, coarse and irregular frame, and the hard unyielding skin 
which distinguished the first exhibits, there may now be seen 
Sussex heifers of meek appearance, and bulls which show but 
few signs of coarseness, although evidently retaining great 
strength of constitution and hardihood. This breed is de- 
servedly popular as producing a large quantity of beef of high 
quality at a fairly early age ; and the remarks of the Judges as 
to the Devons may be repeated as applying with equal force to 
the disadvantage to the exhibitors caused by the curtailment of 
age. A very handsome bull from Surrey, " Prince Rufus," was 
placed before Mr. Stewart Forster's coarser Kentish specimen, 
" Slander 3rd." In the Younger Bulls the prize went to a 
lengthy but plain yearling of Mr. Forster's, placed before a 
much neater one of the same gentleman. Only one cow 
