Natural History of Animals of the Farm 
193 
tages of crossing were universally appreciated, and this practice is to-day 
followed throughout the Nivernais district, wherein the breeders continue to 
resort to the use of Shorthorn and Charolais sires. 
Thus is obtained the Shorthorn-Charolais {Durham- Charolais) cross, 
which constitutes one of the most beautiful races of cattle in Europe. 
“ Nowhere,” says M. Sanson, “ is the breeding of animals more energetically 
or better conducted than in the Nivernais district.” 
These half-breds, which are classed in the catalogues of French live-stock 
shows as race Charolaise-Nivernaise, or as race Charolaise-amelioree , have 
the white coat of the Charolais breed, for the breeders use as sires only those 
Shorthorn bulls which have also this shade of colour. They possess in a 
high degree the typical characters of butchers’ beasts. The head is shorter 
than that of the pure-bred Charolais ; the horns, smaller and entirely white, 
are directed forward, but turned up at the ends ; the neck and shoulders 
Fig. 5. — Ox of the improved Charolais breed. 
are shorter, and the chest is fuller; the back, the flanks, the rump, and the 
thighs are more developed ; the legs are more slender ; the beasts handle 
more firmly, and they yield beef of the best quality. 
Thus, then, the Charolais breed (fig. 5), localised originally in the Saone- 
et-Loire, is to-day cultivated in the adjoining regions. Introduced into the 
Cher (to the west of the Nievre) and into the Allier (to the west of the 
Saone-et-Loire), it promises to completely displace the large Bourbonnais 
breed which formerly spread over the plains of the Allier. 
In the classification of the breeds of sheep the same difficulties 
•are encountered as in the case of cattle, at least so far as British 
breeds are concerned. Whilst room is found for such names as 
Norfolk Down, West Down, and Buckinghamshire, there is no refer- 
•ence to the Suffolks, the Dorset Horns, the Wensleydales, the 
Boscommons, and various other recognised breeds', nor do the Border 
Leicesters appear to be differentiated. 
With regard to the Merino, a breed which has played so im- 
portant a part in the development of fleece-bearers in various parts 
VOL. IV. T. S. — 1 3 0 
