Polled Aberdeen and Angus Cattle. 
361 
improvement of the breed till he died in 1880. His first 
purchase was "Black Meg" (7G6), from whom is descended 
the celebrated " Prides of Aberdeen " and allied tribes. The 
breeder of " Black Meg " is unknown, and there has been con- 
siderable discussion as to whether Buchan or Angus had the 
credit of producing her. Mr. Fullerton stated that he believed 
her to have been bred in Buchan. Her first famous descendant 
was " Queen-Mother " (348), who was out of " Queen of Ardo- 
vie" (a daughter of "Black Meg"), and got by the celebrated 
"Panmure" (51), who also claims "Black Meg" for his dam. 
" Queen-Mother " was purchased for 12/. 10s. at Mr. FuUerton's 
sale at Ardovie, when a yearling, by the late Mr. McCombie, 
of Tillyfour, for whom she not only won many Showyard 
honours, but also founded that grand family the " Prides," 
with which Mr. McCombie's name is so honourably associated. 
The Balwyllo herd was long one of the largest and best 
known in the country, and of its exceptionally high cha- 
racter we have strong proof in many existing herds. In the 
pedigree of the highest-priced animal of the breed, " Pride of 
Aberdeen 9th," the property of Mr. R. C. Auld, Bridgend, 
Alford, Mr. Scott's well-known bulls " President " (205), " Pre- 
sident 2nd " (54), and " President 3rd " (246), all appear. The 
Sheilhill herd produced very fine animals, including the bulls 
" Prospero " and " Tom Pipes," which won leading honours 
both at the Highland Show in 1861, and at the Show of the 
Royal Agricultural Society of England at Battersea the fol- 
Jowing year. 
Kinnaird Castle has long been a stronghold of the breed. 
A large and valuable herd was maintained by Lord Southesk 
till 1865, when it was annihilated by rinderpest, A fresh herd 
has been started within the last twelve months. To it I may 
refer afterwards. As to the origin and history of the first 
Kinnaird herd, I have been favoured with some interesting 
notes by the Hon. Charles Carnegie, brother to the Earl of 
Southesk, and a gentleman whose knowledge of matters pertain- 
ing to the breed is extensive and accurate. He says, " It is 
impossible to trace the origin of this stock (the old Kinnaird 
stock), which had probably gone on from generation to genera- 
tion from a very remote period. At the time of the late Sir 
James Carnegie's minority, which lasted from 1805 to 1821, 
the home farm at Kinnaird was farmed by his mother, Lady 
Southesk, and then all the cattle were Polled Angus — indeed 
there was probably no other breed in the district. Lady Car- 
negie has frequently spoken to the writer about her cattle and 
their splendid milking qualities, as well as of her system of 
rearing calves. This system consisted in feeding the calf with 
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