and Princess Dagmar 3rd 3233, of the Matilda branch of the Queen tribe, for 35 guineas.

Raasay.-Mr. Herbert Wood of Raasay, Skye, started a herd in 1880, by purchases at the Tillyfour dispersion. The animals he then acquired comprised specimens of the Pride of Aberdeen and Easter Tulloch Mayflower families.

Ruthven.-The herd here is one of the oldest in the district, being descended from the Castle Newe stock. Bulls have been introduced from Tillyfour, Mains of Kelly, Auchlossan, and Aboyne Castle. A draft sale was held in 1876, when an average of over £27 was realized.

Semiel.-At Semiel, Strathdon, a herd was started about sixty-six years ago, by the purchase, by the grandfather of the present tenant, Mr Scott, of two polled heifers from a farmer in Suiefoot, Gartly, Aberdeenshire. At that time most of the cattle in this outlying district of the county were horned, and there was some difficulty in obtaining the services of a polled bull. However, there happened to be a polled bull at Castle Newe, and the heifers were mated with him. No cows were added, the produce of these heifers being retained, and served with good polled sires. In 1864 some of the best animals were bought by Mr Scott, and he has also kept the strain pure, buying sires from Tillyfour, Easter Skene, Whitehouse, Wester Fowlis, and Nether Kildrummy. Two heifers were bought from Ruthven, Logie Coldstone, and these, with the descendants of the animals acquired in 1816, form the herd at Semiel.

The Burn.-Colonel M'Inroy of The Burn has for many years owned a herd of great purity, but owing to his never having kept pedigrees, we are unable to give much information regarding it. He used to buy bulls from Kinnaird Cavalier 411, after Windsor 221, and out of Kalliope 1234 having been one of them. The Earl of Airlie secured some females from the The Burn herd, and from one of

them sprang the fine heifer Miranda 4204, first as a yearling and two-year-old at Highland Society's shows.

sent owner.

Tillychetly. This is an old-established stock, and has been much improved by Mr. Charles M'Combie, the preAmong notable recent purchases wereMyrtle 1785, from Tillyfour in 1874; Lark 2nd of Easter Skene 3786, representing a very rare strain, tracing through Mr M'Combie's (Easter Skene) Mariana 622, and Lady Clara 4, to the Keillor cow Old Grannie 1; Pride of Aberdeen 16th 3302, and Vine of Tillyfour 1167, a grand old matron of the Daisy branch of the Queen tribe.

Turtory.-Mr Smith gathered together a number of specimens of some of the best strains at Rothiemay, and he also made some purchases at Standing Stones.

Wester Fordel. This herd was founded by MajorGeneral Kirkland, with animals of the Kinnaird Fanny, the Mayflower and Levity families from Mr. Scott, Easter Tulloch. The bull Morven 1502, bred by the Marquis of Huntly, out of Madge 1217, and after Duke of Perth 357, has been used.

Among other places at which polled cattle are reared are Strichen Mains, Clova, Firfolds, Cardenston, Milntorries, Knockollachy, Meikle Camaloun, Craskins, Dunnydeer, Invermarkie, Clockhill, Brunton, etc.

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CHAPTER XV.

THE BREED IN ENGLAND AND IRELAND.

Polled cattle at the Battersea and Kilburn International ExhibitionsPride of Aberdeen 581 and Mr Richard Booth's Queen of the Ocean, the two best females at Battersea-English herds-Baliol College— Beechwood Bradley Hall - The Ballindalloch Ericas- Ewell Felcourt-Goodwood-Horsted-Roos-Smeaton Manor-South Ella -Studley Priory-Mr Henderson's experience with the breed-The Breed in Ireland-Mr Hugh Watson's success at the early shows of the Royal Irish and Royal Dublin Societies-Grey-breasted Jock 2 closed his career in the Emerald Isle-The herd of Mr Kirkaldy of Hearnesbrook and Mr Seymour of Ballymore Castle-Lord Talbot de Malahide and Lord Lurgan-Herds of Mr Owen, Blessington, and Mr Collis of Tieraclea.

England.

ENGLISH agriculturists have had numerous opportunities of inspecting the best specimens of the breed. Prizes have been frequently offered for polled cattle at the shows of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, while at the great International Exhibitions at Battersea in 1862 and at Kilburn in 1879, Aberdeen or Angus mustered in strong. force. At the former meeting a competent authority bracketed Mr M'Combie's polled cow Pride of Aberdeen 581 with Mr Richard Booth's famous Shorthorn Queen of the Ocean as the two best females at the show. For many years the Smithfield and Bingley Hall Fat Stock Shows have had as one of their leading features the displays

of animals of the polled breed. Of scarcely less importance in spreading the fame of the breed in England have been the magnificent lots of polled oxen annually exhibited at the Christmas Market in London. It is only in recent years, however, that herds of polled cattle have been started in England. One of the first to do so was Mr Carter Wood of Felcourt, Sussex, and during the past year there has been a large accession to the ranks of polled breeders in England. We give below a few notes on English herds :Baliol College Farm. For several years before Mr Stephenson, Baliol College Farm, Benton, near Newcastle, turned his attention to a breeding stock of polled cattle, he showed some specimens of the breed at the fat shows. In 1878 he won the first prize at Smithfield with a black polled heifer, while again at the same show in 1880 he had the best black polled heifer. Recognising their great aptitude to fatten, he resolved to start a breeding stock; and through Mr Robert Bruce, Great Smeaton, laid the foundation of a herd in purchases from Mr Bean, Balquhain. Good looks, combined with good pedigree, were made two essential points in selecting his females, and although he now has a great number of strains or families represented in his herd, yet there is a great uniformity of type and character running through the lot. Of one thing he is very particular he is decidedly opposed to "scurs," and makes a true polled head a cardinal point in the selection of his animals. Having, as we have said, no large number of any particular family, Mr. Stephenson decided on buying an Erica bull after seeing how impressive they had been in many herds in the North of Scotland. A journey to Ballindalloch in the early autumn of last year, before North-country breeders had begun to think of buying bulls, enabled him to get, after one was drawn for home use, a pick of the Erica bulls, and he was fortunate in choosing one which he has since named Englishman from the favourite cow

A

Edith 2973, by the noted sire Young Viscount 736. glance at the list of females in the herd shows that there is a great amount of fine material, so far as breeding is concerned, for the production of good animals, and the present lot of youngsters is sufficient guarantee that the dams have been well and carefully selected. There is one Erica in the herd, viz. Esther of Aberlour 4843, a very pretty specimen of the family, having all the characteristics of high breeding and the true Erica head. Since she came to England, Esther has produced a beautiful bull calf by the Jilt, sire Juval 1880. There are three female Prides-Pride of Aberdeen 16th 3302 and her two heifer calves (twins) from Gavenwood. The calves are by Challenger 1260, and they should turn out the foundresses of a valuable branch of this esteemed family. The other females in the herd include Lizzie of Morlich 4954, of the Windsor branch of the Queen tribe, with her yearling daughter Lizzie of Benton 4955, by Marshal Var 1452, a most promising animal; Lady Lizzie 4953 of a Kinnochtry family; Blooming Heather 2nd 3572; Lemon 2nd 2264, of the Portlethen Lively family, and her yearling daughter Lavish by Matador 1710; Rose of Boghead 1437 and her daughter Rose 5th 4958; Abbess 3rd, bred at Easter Tulloch, and her daughter Abbess 5th, by Serapis 998; Faithful 3rd 4957, of the Kinnaird Fanny family; Miss Carnegie 6th; Brunette 3rd, by Lowther 1388, of the Ballindalloch Miss Burgess family; Fanny of Boghead 3341 with her three-year-old daughter, Farewell, by Serapis 998; Gravity 4864, of the Montbletton Mayflower family; Ethelinda 3356, of the Tillyfour Ruth sort; and Bathy 3rd, of the Miss Watson family. Four females have been sold to Mr Geary, London, Ontario-viz. Miss Carnegie 5th; Brunette 3rd; Rose 5th 4958; and Lady Benton, out of Lizzie 4953. Two bull calves of last year have been sold-the one, Jock o' Benton 1894, from Lady Lizzie, to Professor Lawson, Halifax,