EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 467 
the assurance that they will again occupy their wonted places, 
to the advantage both of the Society and themselves. 
The show of animals upon the whole was good, but scarcely 
equal in a few of the classes to former years. This applies 
more particularly to the horses, some of which were too 
inferior to be sent for competition to even the most humble 
local show. There were, however, many good animals in 
the different classes, fully meriting the distinction which was 
put upon them by the judges. Compared with previous years, 
there were fewer cases of hereditary disease among the horses ; 
but still so many existed, as to induce the stewards to an¬ 
nounce that, “ several good-looking animals in this division 
were rejected for unsoundness.” 
The short-horns were universally admitted to be very 
superior, and perhaps were never equalled on any previous 
occasion. Without particularizing any of the animals, which 
is contrary to our established custom, we cannot refrain from 
saying that Royal Butterfly even surpassed in many respects 
his far-famed brother, Master Butterfly , who, it will be remem¬ 
bered, was purchased for Australia at the price of 1200 
guineas. Col. Towneley is said to have refused the sum of 
2000 guineas for Royal Butterfly and two heifers. 
The Hereford class was not numerous, but contained 
several superior animals. It included eleven bulls, ten 
yearlings, and five bull calves; one cow, to which was awarded 
the first prize; six heifers, five yearlings, and six heifer 
calves. 
The Devons exceeded the Herefords in number, and were 
upon the whole a very good class. Among the “ other esta¬ 
blished breeds” came the Sussex and the Suffolk, with the 
Alderneys and petites Bretonnes, celebrated it is said for their 
milking properties; but certainly not, in the specimens exhi¬ 
bited, for the excellency of their conformation. 
Of the sheep we may remark that the Southdowns came 
out with great strength. In the awards Jonas Webb may be 
said to be “ first, and the rest nowhere.” He took not only 
•r 
the three prizes for shearling rams and for the old rams, 
but likewise all the “high commendations,” and all but one 
of the “ commendations.” 
