of the Royal Northern Society, and the third prize of the Highland Society at Stirling in 1864; while in 1865 he was first at the Morayshire show at Elgin. A private catalogue of the Ballindalloch herd states that Trojan "did more good to the Ballindalloch herd perhaps than any other bull that has been in it. He was undoubtedly the first bull that gave the females the characteristics by which they came to the top a few years after his advent, and brought out fully the special features that make the Ballindalloch style so popular with the public." Trojan was succeeded by the Montbletton bull Victor 493, who left some good animals. Other sires used were the champion bull Juryman 404, bred in the herd-sire Bright 454, dam Jilt 973; the first-prize bull Scotsman 474, bred at Tillyfour, out of Zara 1228 after Jim Crow 3rd 350; the Erica bull Elchies 563-dam Eisa 977, sire Juryman; the Erica bull Elcho 595-dam Erica 843, sire Juryman; Judge 1150, who won the gold medal at Paris in 1878 -dam Jilt 973, sire Scotsman. Of these sires, the most valued in the herd may be said to have been Trojan, Victor, Elchies, Elcho, Juryman, and Judge. The stock of the first four were characterised by sweetness, fineness of bone, excellent heads, for which the herd is famed; splendid quality, and grand ribs to carry plenty of flesh on the valuable roasting parts. The stock of the Jilt bulls have had rather more size combined with the other good qualities. One of the sires now in use is the renowned Erica bull Young Viscount 736, bought at the Montcoffer sale for 225 guineas, the highest price ever paid for a male of the breed. He has won every prize he can compete for, and being closely allied to the Ballindalloch cattle has proved a most excellent stud bull. Another sire at present in use is Justice 1462-dam Jilt 973, sire Elcho 595. This animal is distinguished alike by the highest individual excellence and the finest possible breeding. He was the first-prize yearling, second-prize two-year-old, and first N prize aged bull at Highland Society's shows. The Pride. bull Petrarch 1258, out of Pride of Mulben 1919 and after Hero 861, has also been used lately. It will thus be seen that the three predominant strains introduced on the male side have been the Erica, Jilt, and Queen. Many of the sires used having also been bred in the herd, line-breeding has been pursued to a certain extent, although it has not been carried to an extreme point. Distinguished success has been achieved in the building. up of families at Ballindalloch. The place of honour in this respect must be accorded to the Ericas, of Keillor origin. Of Erica's calves, eight have been registered, four of each sex. These are Eisa 977, by Trojan 402; Erica 2nd 1284, by Chieftain 318; Enchantress 981, by Trojan 402; Ella 1205, by Kildonan 405; Guardsman 658, by Windsor 221; Cup-Bearer 451, by Trojan; Exciseman 473, by Victor 403; and Elcho 595, by Juryman 404. Erica continued to breed till September 1873, when she died at the age of sixteen years. Eisa 977 won the second prize as a cow at the Highland Society's show at Dumfries in 1870, when she was placed next to Sybil 974. Next year, at Perth, she gained the first prize, and is remembered as a remarkably sweet, ladylike, evenly balanced cow. Indeed it is doubtful whether, for genuine feminine character, quality, and symmetry, a finer specimen of the breed has been seen since. Eisa's daughters, Eva 984 and Echo 2976, have also been prominent Highland Society winners, and have bred remarkably well. Enchantress 981 was the first prize as a two-year-old and second as a cow at the Highland Society's shows in 1871 and 1872, and has left a numerous and excellent progeny. Of the other two Erica females out of the foundress of the tribe, one was sold. Erica 3rd 1249, out of Erica 2nd 1284, went to Mr Duff, Hillockhead. Among her descendants we may note the splendid bull Young Viscount 736, first at Highland Soci ety's shows in the yearling, two-year-old, and aged classes, the champion at Kilburn, not to speak of numerous other honours; Erica 4th 1697, sold to Lord Airlie for 101 guineas; Miss Macpherson 1252, a grand milker, who also went to Cortachy; St Clair 1160, first-prize yearling and two-year-old at Highland Society's shows; Essence 4547, bought by Lord Southesk from Mr Hannay for 100 guineas, and winner of the second prize as a yearling at the Highland Society's show in 1881. Ella 1205, the fourth daughter of Erica, was bought by Mr Macgregor, Garline, and her offspring are also deservedly appreciated. The Erica bull Elcho 595 has the reputation of being one of the best heifer-getters of the breed, and left many excellent calves in several herds. Space will not permit us to enumerate the whole of the famous members of this fashionable family, but enough has been said to explain how it has come to be justly regarded as one of the choicest strains of polled cattle. At the Aberdeen show of the Highland Society in 1876, an Erica was first in the class of aged bulls; another first in the class of two-year-old bulls; and another second in the class of cows. The Jilt family has been more distinguished for the production of bulls. Like the Erica sort, it is based on Keillor blood, Jilt 973 having been out of Beauty of Tillyfour 2nd 1180, bred at Keillor, and after the Queen bull Black Prince of Tilly four 366, who, as already observed, was the sire of Trojan, so closely associated with the improvement of the herd. When Jilt was sold at the Tilly four sale in 1867, she was in calf to Bright 454, another son of Black Prince of Tillyfour 366, and the produce was Juryman 404, first-prize two-year-old and first-prize aged bull at the Highland Society's shows. From Jilt was also bred Judge, the firstprize bull at Paris in 1878, and Justice, another first-prize Highland Society bull. All these animals have, as we remarked, been used in the herd. Among the more noted. female produce of Jilt may be mentioned Jewel 1413, Jewess 1916, and Juno 3374. The Sybil tribe, although it has also bred well, has scarcely come so prominently to the front, the cows Siren 1915 and Sprite 3796 being perhaps its most noteworthy female members. The older families at Ballindalloch have also bred extremely well. That tracing from Miss Burgess 1198, bred in 1861 by Mr Burgess, Slack of Ballindalloch, can count among its members Bertha 980, the first-prize cow of the Highland Society at Stirling in 1873; Bachelor 690, the winner of two third prizes at Highland Society's shows, and one of the most successful sires of recent years; Birthday 3373, who gained the second prize at Paris, and the first prize as a two-year-old at the Highland Society's show at Perth in 1879; and Maid of Aven 2995, the firstprize cow at the Highland Society's show at Stirling in 1881. The Lady Fanny and Coquette families have also yielded some fine stock, and the Nosegay family is famous for superior milking qualities. These three families trace to the original stock at Ballindalloch. The Pride cows, more recently introduced to the herd, have bred admirably. Kindness of Ballindalloch 1412, is one of the best cows of the family she represents, and is dam of some superior stock, while from Pride of Mulben 1919 has sprung a few of the highest priced animals of the breed. Besides a large number of private sales, there have been three public auctions at Ballindalloch. At the sale in 1872 the average for 19 head was £35, 18s. 5d., highest price, £63; in 1876 the average for 21 head was £47, 15s., highest price, £84; and in 1879 the average for 37 head was £24, 12s., highest price, £52, 10s. The last sale comprised few members of the choicer strains in the herd, and was more of the nature of a weeding-out sale than the others. We understand that since the autumn of 1881 to May 1882 twenty-three animals were sold privately for |