Polled Aberdeen and Angus Cattle. 
367 
" Lola Montes," he produced the famous cow " Charlotte " 
(203), the winner of the first prize at the Highland Show in 
1846 ; and the first prize and gold medal as the best of all the 
females at the Concours Afjricole Universel at Paris in 1856. 
" Hanton " (228) was next brought to Tillyfour, Mr. McCombie 
having in 1854 purchased him from his breeder, Mr. Bowie, 
Mains of Kelly, for 105/. This bull gained the first prize at 
Paris in 1856, and the first at the Highland Society's Show at 
Berwick in 1854. On the female side, " Hanton " traces back to 
Panmure," through three generations. On the male side, 
*■'■ Hanton " was closely related to " Angus." The former's sire 
was "Pat" (29); and "Pat" was more than half-brother to the 
sire of "Angus," for besides having been got by " Old Jock " (1), 
the grandsire of " Angus," " Pat " was out of a granddaughter 
of " Grey-Breasted Jock " (2), the sire of " Angus." It is thus 
seen that in breeding his " Pride " tribe Mr. INIcCombie 
practised " close " breeding to some extent. Along with these 
noted bulls Mr. McCombie used several bulls of his own 
breeding, notably three " Victors," all animals of excellent 
individual merit. But enough has been stated to indicate the 
high-class material employed by Mr. McCombie in establishing 
his leading tribe ; and also to give some idea of the skilful 
manner in which that material was manipulated. 
Mr. McCombie's success in the Showyard has few parallels in 
the history of farm-stock. In the third edition of his volume 
entitled ' Cattle and Cattle Breeders,' no fewer than seventeen 
pages are occupied by a mere record of the premiums won by 
animals belonging to the herd prior to 1875. Not content with 
a large share of Scotch and English honours, he several times 
entered international contests in France, and on all occasions 
returned with new laurels and fresh fame for his favourite blacks. 
Probably the crowning victory of his life was achieved at the 
great International Exhibition held at Paris in 1878. On that 
occasion, in addition to several leading " class " honours, he 
carried off with a group of beautiful young polled cattle, all bred 
at Tillyfour, not only the 100/. prize for the best group of cattle 
bred by the exhibitor in the division foreign to France, but also 
the 100/. prize " for the best group of beef-producing animals, 
bred by the exhibitor." * In fat stock as well as breeding 
shows, Mr. McCombie has often proved invincible ; and alto- 
gether it may safely enough be said that the high reputation 
which the breed has deservedly gained beyond the bounds of 
the British Empire has, to a very large extent, been fostered by 
the remarkable Showyard achievements of the Tillyfour herd. 
* See ' Journal of the Eoy. Agric, See.,' Vol. XV. Part I., p. 187. 
