xpanded; loins of first-rate quality, long, wide, and
fleshy; hips round, of medium width; rump level; tail full near the
setting on, tapering to the tip; thighs of the bull and ox muscular and
full, and high in the flank, though in the cow sometimes thought to be
light; the size medium, generally called small. The proportion of meat
on the valuable parts is greater, and the offal less, than on most other
breeds, while it is well settled that they consume less food in its
production. The Devons are popular with the Smithfield butchers, and
their beef is well marbled or grained.

As working oxen, the Devons perhaps excel all other races in quickness,
docility, beauty, and the ease with which they are matched. With a
reasonable load, they are said to be equal to horses as walkers on the
road, and when they are no longer wanted for work they fatten easily and
turn well.

As milkers, they do not excel--perhaps they may be said not to
equal--the other breeds, and they have a reputation of being decidedly
below the average. In their native country the general average of the
dairy is one pound of butter a day during the summer. They are bred for
beef and for work, and not for the dairy; and their yield of milk is
small, though of a rich quality. Several animals, however, of the
celebrated Patterson herd would have been remarkable as milkers even
among good milking stock.

Still, the faults of the North Devon cow, considered as a dairy animal,
are too marked to be overlooked. The rotundity of form and compactness
of frame, though they contribute to her remarkable beauty constitute an
objection to her for this purpose: since it is generally admitted that
the peculiarity of form which disposes an animal to take on fat is
somewhat incompatible with good milking qualities. On this account,
Youatt--who is standard authority in such matters--says that for the
dairy the North Devon must be acknowledged to be inferior to several
other breeds. The milk is good, and yields more than the average
proportion of cream and butter; but it is deficient in quantity. He also
maintains that its property as a milker could not be improved without
producing a certain detriment to its grazing qualities. Distinguished
Devon breeders themselves have come to the same conclusion upon this
point. The improved North Devon cow may be classed, in this respect,
with the Hereford, neither of which has well developed milk-vessels--a
point of the utmost conseq