Page:The Evolution of British Cattle.djvu/96

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
84
EVOLUTION OF BRITISH CATTLE

found in Scotland, the north of England, Wales, and Ireland—but, since the establishment of pure breeds, and perhaps before that, they have gradually disappeared: the Highland breed being the last of the Celtic breeds to give them a lodging. There are still a few among the non-pedigreed Irish black cattle, but very few in the territories of the Welsh, the Galloways, or the Aberdeen-Angus.

Being registered among Highlanders, it is among them we must first look for the link that may connect these cattle with other breeds and perhaps with the race to which they belong; and an examination of the Highland Herd- Book shows that the Highland brindles have been produced by crossing this blackish-brown race with the other three fundamental colours belonging to the breed, viz. black, red, and light dun (sometimes in other breeds described by such words as "grey" and "silver grey").

Is there any other British breed of cattle in which brindles are known, and, if so, what is their origin? There is one breed, the Longhorns, and the Longhorn brindles also revert back to a similar ancestral race, which is described, however, not as brown or donn, but as mulberry or plum coloured. Are there any other cattle in which these same phenomena can be traced? There is one other breed, almost at Britain's doors, in which this same brown, or