808 
FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS. 
had recently arrived at the Jardin des Plantes to supply the 
place of the one which was slaughtered during the siege, and 
killed it instantaneously. 
Sale of the Holker Shorthorns. — The Duke of 
Devonshire’s sale of shorthorns at Holker Hall, which took 
place on September 6th, was one of the most remarkable 
ever held. “We {Chamber of Agriculture Journal) remember 
nothing to eclipse it since the dispersion of the Dawpool herd 
of Bates’ Grand Dukes and Duchesses in 1864. It was 
upon that occasion that the Duke of Devonshire purchased 
Grand Duke 10 th for 600 guineas. Such a price doubt- 
less called down remark at the time, and probably not a few 
looked upon the transaction as indicating a greater love of 
shorthorns than of money. However this may have been, 
the bull was a bargain, as has been w’ell shown during the 
past week and upon previous occasions. One of his grand- 
daughters, Grand Duchess of Oxford 18/^, by Fourth Baron 
Oxford, was sold at the extraordinary figure of 1005 guineas, 
and others of his stock realised very high prices. The general 
result of the sale was that fort} T -three animals made £240 
13s. 10 d. each, and a total of £10,349 17s. Thirty-one cows 
made £248 2s., and twelve bulls £221 11s. each. The 
details of the sale were no less remarkable, especially the 
prices given for the Oxford tribes. Eight members of this 
family were sold at an average of £588 each, and the high 
general average of the sale was due to the demand for this 
particular race. Lord Bective was the purchaser of Grand 
Duchess of Oxford 18^.” 
At the sale of Mr. Thomas Bell’s shorthorns at Brockton 
House, Eccleshall, which was held during the week following 
the Holker sale, the Eighth Duke of York, by Fourth Duke 
of Thorndale, was sold for the unprecedented sum of 1065 
guineas. He was bought by Mr. J. Fawcett, of Scaleby 
Castle, for himself and friend. Lord Bective’s agent was 
the chief opposing bidder. 
The Mont Cenis Tunnel and the Cattle Trade. 
— The Salut Public of Lyons says : — “ The opening of the 
Mont Cenis Tunnel for goods traffic has already been of 
utility to our cattle market. Two Piedmontese have sent 
during the last few days a special train laden with oxen. 
About fifty pigs and twenty calves have also arrived by the 
same route. But, as the rates of conveyance are not yet 
fixed, the company takes advantage of the circumstance to 
charge too dear.” 
