It has already been explained that Mr M'Combie having, according to his own published ideas on the subject, carried in-and-in breeding to an extreme point, sought an out-cross, and procured from Mr Watson, Keillor, the bull Angus 45, one of the best-bred and best-looking sires reared in that herd, he having been out of Old Favourite, and after the celebrated bull Old Jock 1, who was also out of Old Favourite. Lola Montes produced in 1852 a calf by Angus 45, which attained very high fame by her achievements in the show-yard, and also as the foundress of the branch of the Queen tribe which Mr M'Combie himself held in greatest favour, and which is now specially associated with his name. The calf referred to was Charlotte 203, known from her victory in the gay capital in 1856 as the "Paris cow." Charlotte's calf in 1857 was Pride of Aberdeen 581, got by Hanton 228, who may also be termed the "Paris bull," he having gained the corresponding honour in the male class at the French exhibition in 1856 to that obtained by Charlotte in the female section. A somewhat nice point arises here. Pride of Aberdeen 581 had two full sisters, Empress of France 578, and Daisy of Tillyfour 1165, and we have heard the question asked, "In what consists the superiority of the Pride of Aberdeen branch of the Queen tribe over the Dandy and Daisy or Vine branches, which trace respectively to Pride's full sisters Empress 578, and Daisy 1165?" Of course there was absolutely no difference in the blood of these three cows; but, while both Empress and Daisy were undoubtedly fine animals, Daisy especially having been a Highland Society first-prize cow, and winner of the challenge cup at Aberdeen, neither of them can display a show and breeding record equal to that of Pride of Aberdeen. Indeed, Pride of Aberdeen's career is without parallel in the chronicles of the breed. She was the firstprize yearling, the first-prize two-year-old, and the first prize cow at the Highland Society's shows; she gained the challenge cup at Aberdeen; and she was the first-prize cow at the International show at Battersea in 1862, where she beat her dam Charlotte, and was referred to as being, with Mr Richard Booth's celebrated Shorthorn cow Queen of the Ocean-designated by Mr Carr, the historian of the Booth Shorthorns, "a superb Shorthorn, a queen of cows"-the best female animal on the ground. Nor was this all. Pride of Aberdeen must have possessed, along with the most perfect shapes and quality, an extraordinary constitution. Few females of any breed have been able to stand three years of the forcing process necessary to keep in the front rank in the show-yard, and crown a career of unsurpassed success in exhibition, by no less distinguished performances as a breeder. Pride of Aberdeen produced seven female calves and four male calves that have been registered. The bulls were useful in the herds to which they were introduced, while from each of the females has sprung a race of valuable cattle. An examination of the circumstances therefore proves that it was no mere fancy that led Mr M'Combie to maintain that the Pride of Aberdeen family was the most precious branch of the Queen tribe. The favour in which the Prides are regarded has certainly not been gained by that rarity which results from infecundity. We have counted the number of female descendants of Pride of Aberdeen 581 registered in vols. ii., iii., iv., v., and vi. of the Herd Book,' and find there are no fewer than 78. The estimation in which the Prides are held by breeders is illustrated by the fact that nine of the best representatives of the family sold publicly, in 1880 and 1881, realized an average of £140 each, one cow (Mr. Auld's Pride of Aberdeen 9th) bringing £283, 10s. The Prides are distinguished in individual appearance by long, square, handsome frames, length of quarter, great size, substance, and wealth of flesh; while they are known to be robust in constitution, with wonderful aptitude to mature early, and to lay on flesh and fat on the better parts. As has been observed, the Daisy or Vine and the Dandy branches of the Queen tribe are descended from full sisters of Pride of Aberdeen. The Crinoline branch springs from Crinoline 204, out of Charlotte 203, and after Victor 3rd 193. The Duchess branch, in which there is a wonderful concentration of Queen and Panmure blood, traces from Favourite 1237, whose sire was Hanton 228, and whose dam was Lola Montes 208. The cow of this branch that went to Westertown was Duchess of Westertown 927, by Rob Roy Macgregor 267. Mr Brown infused the Queen blood into his herd in the male line very strongly; and an analysis of the pedigree of Baron Settrington 356, a son of Duchess 927, shows that Panmure's name occurs no fewer than thirty times. Another branch of the Queen tribe is that tracing from Matilda of Yonderton 1722, by Hanton 228, and out of Lola Montes 208. Fancy of Tillyfour 1195, by Hanton 228, out of The Belle 205, has also founded a small family. The Charmer branch traces from another daughter of The Belle-Lovely of Tillyfour 1166, by Rob Roy Macgregor 267. The cow Windsor 202, out of Queen Mother 348, and after Victor 46, was very closely bred, as will be seen from the following: 361 Windsor 202 was the first prize-yearling heifer at the show of the Royal Agricultural Society of England at Windsor in 1851, and, besides numerous other honours, won the first prize as a cow at Berwick in 1854. She was the dam of two splendid bulls-Windsor, 221 and Rob Roy Macgregor 267, full brothers, both having been These remarkable animals are reafter Hanton 228. ferred to at length in connection with the Tillyfour, Windsor 202 is Westertown, and Kinnaird herds. represented in the female line only by stock tracing from her daughter Beauty of Morlich 2072, by Angus 45. This animal was sold to Mr Cran, Morlich. We know little concerning her individual appearance, but good stock has been bred from her. Another branch of the Queen tribe is that descended from Victoria of Kelly 345, bred by Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly. She was out of Queen Mother 348, who went to Mains of Kelly in her old age, and after Cupbearer 59. The Ballindalloch Ericas. No family of polled cattle has in recent years taken a more distinguished position in the show-yard than the Ballindalloch Ericas. Since 1870 they have not been absent from the prize lists of the Highland Society's shows We have compiled the excepting on two occasions. following list of prizes gained at the Highland Society's shows by specimens of this fashionable strain :— 1870, Dumfries: Cupbearer 451, out of Erica 843, second-prize two-year-old bull; Eisa 977, out of Erica 1871, Perth: Eisa, first-prize 843, second-prize cow. cow; Enchantress 981, out of Erica 843, first-prize two- Viscount, first-prize two-year-old bull; St. Clair 1160, out of Erica 4th 1697, first-prize one-year-old bull; Ethel 1415, out of Enchantress 981, second-prize twoyear-old heifer. 1876, Aberdeen: Young Viscount, firstprize aged bull; Bacchus 607, out of Eisa 977, very highly commended aged bull; St Clair, first-prize twoyear-old bull; Eva, second-prize cow; Erica 6th 3023, out of Erica 4th 1697, fourth - prize heifer. 1877, Edinburgh: St Clair, third-prize aged bull; Cluny 1283, out of Eva 984, highly commended two-year-old bull; Eva, second-prize cow; Echo 2976, out of Eisa 977, highly commended cow; Erica 6th, third-prize two-yearold heifer; Edina 2987, out of Enchantress 981, thirdprize yearling heifer. 1878, Dumfries: Editor 1460, out of Edith 2973, commended one-year-old bull; Echo, second-prize cow; Edina, third-prize two-year-old heifer. 1879, Perth: Editor, highly commended two-year old bull; Eva, fourth-prize cow. 1881, Stirling: Express 1821, out of Eleanor 3376, fourth-prize yearling bull; Essence 4547, out of Erica 9th 3822, second-prize yearling heifer. We have referred to the Erica family at such length in notices of the Kinnaird and Ballindalloch herds that little remains to be said here. Erica 843, the foundress of the family, was bought by Sir George Macpherson Grant at the Earl of Southesk's sale in 1861 for fifty guineas, her sire having been Cupbearer 59, and her dam Emily 332, by Old Jock 1, bred by Mr Watson, Keillor; the sire and grandsire having thus been two of the most renowned show bulls of the breed. The following displays the material of which Erica's pedigree was composed :— |