WEST HIGHLAND BREEDS OF CATTLE. 
547 
all but extinct ; preserved, only, as it were, by the merest chance 
in one or two lordly parks, whilst black cattle and red cattle 
prevail universally. 
But, to return to the black and white Pembroke cattle: — 
South Wales and Cornwall were early occupied by the Phoeni- 
cians, who, in all probability, brought this breed of cattle with 
them, or found them there on their arrival; and thus, in point 
of fact, they never were Celtic, but were merely accidentally 
mixed with the Celtic races of cattle, and are now in progress 
of extermination, like the people or race of men to whom they 
belonged. This will explain their presence in some parts of 
France, and amongst the Pyreenean Mountains. With respect 
to the black Pembroke cattle, it is admitted by Mr. Low him- 
self that they are not quite identical with the West Highland 
breed. I believe I was the first to hint that, after all, the white 
droves of his Grace the Duke of Hamilton and of Lord Tanker- 
ville might be purely artificial*, and that we do not know on 
this account what really was the natural colour of these cattle ; 
and thus, in fact, still stands the question. It may be that the 
white Welsh cattle, those of Tankerville, and the white cattle of 
Hamilton, hold similar relations to the respective breeds with 
which they come in contact, and may be identical with the cor- 
responding dark race of the county; but I have shewn, I think, 
that another hypothesis might be maintained with a greater shew 
of truth. To the scientific and practical men of Pembrokeshire 
I beg leave respectfully to submit this question. I am quite 
sensible that there are many difficulties in the way of every 
hypothesis which can be offered. 
The cattle of South America are said, in the course of about 
three hundred years, to have assumed a uniform colour of black 
and brown ; but, first, is this the fact? — and, secondly, were they 
not so when first introduced? — or, thirdly, has it not happened 
that in these wilds a predominating breed has prevailed to the ex- 
tinction of all the others? Do we not daily see that a flock of 
sheep of a mixed breed, if not artificially maintained by a return 
to both the original breeds, will speedily assume the character of 
the predominating breed? Are the horses of the Pampas of one 
rious that it was not so; the soil was handed over to a few English and Irish 
(traitor?) families for their especial benefit, and, being entailed on them, the 
English Government is deservedly at this moment about to reap the fruits of 
its far-seeing statesman-like policy. Had Ireland and Wales been open to 
Saxon industry and capital, where would now have been the Celtic inhabit- 
ants? The answer is easy; — In America. It is perfectly a delusion to talk 
of Ireland and Wales as belonging to England. They belong absolutely and 
literally to a few powerful English nobility. 
* See my memoir, already referred to. 
