CATTLE, ALDERXEV3. 
Cl 
superior fruit, and large quantities of cider and perry -were annually 
made there. 
Of late years these islands, Alderney, Jersey, and Guernsey, have 
become celebrated throughout England and America, for their breed of 
cattle ; the cows of which give milk of unsurpassed richness. 
These cattle are undoubtedly of French origin. The Normandy cattle 
arc larger than the Jerseys, and Youatt says, have a greater tendency to 
fatten. He passes them by, in his admirable work on cattle, with 
scarcely more than a mention ; this is to be regretted, since lie was so 
careful and conscientious a historian. He says: 
“They are found mainly in gentlemen’s parks and pleasure grounds, 
and they maintain their occupancy there, partly on account of the rich- 
ness of their milk, and the great quantity of butter which it yields, but 
more from the diminutive size of the animals. Their real ugliness is 
;jasscd over on these accounts ; and it is thought fashionable that the 
view from the breakfast or drawing room of the house should present an 
Alderney cow or two grazing at a little distance. 
“They are light red, yellow, fawn or dun colored ; short, wild-horned, 
deer-necked, thin, and small-boned; irregularly and often very 
awkwardly shaped.” 
A Prejudiced Statement, 
Quoting from Mr. Parkinson, who, Mr. Youatt says, seems to havo 
had a determined prejudice against them, he writes: 
“ Their size is small, and they are of as bad a form as can possiblv bo 
described ; the bellies of many of them being four-fifths of their weight. 
The neck is very thin and hollow ; the shoulder stands up, and is tho 
highest part ; they are hollow and narrow behind the shoulders ; tho 
chine is nearly without flesh ; the hucks are narrow and sharp at tho 
ends ; the rump is short, and they are narrow and light in the brisket.” 
Mr. Youatt adds for himself : 
“This is about as bad a form as can possibly bo described, and tho 
picture is very little exaggerated, when the animal is analyzed, point by 
point ; yet all these defects are so put together, as to make a not unpleas- 
ing whole.” 
Mr. Youatt, however, compliments them with giving exceedingly rich 
milk, and with fattening in a surprising manner when dry. 
Wo havo quoted the abovo for two reasons : one as showing probably 
what may have been nearer the truth than we might naturally expect 
from seeing the best specimens now, and the other as showing that this 
breed has made a great advancement since his day, both in quantity of 
milk given, and in symmetry and perfection of form. 
