Banks of Dee" carried everything before him, and his descendants gained
seven firsts and a second in one year in the show-yard; but although Mr
Walker had never bred another animal save "Fox Maule," his celebrity as
a breeder would have been established. "Fox Maule" was one of the best
polled bulls ever exhibited. Mr Hector, late in Fernyflat, was a very
celebrated breeder of polled cattle, and his stock was of the very
highest order, and gained many prizes at our national shows. The
Crathes stock is of long standing. The late Sir Thomas Burnett was a
most successful breeder, and stood in the front rank for many a long
year. The Crathes herd was a tower of strength, and under the able
management of Mr John Davidson they were dangerous antagonists. I have
had many encounters with them in the Aberdeen show-yard, and have got
soundly beaten. "The Banks of Dee," mentioned above, was the most
celebrated bull of his day, and took the first prize wherever he was
exhibited, local and national. Sir Thomas had his portrait taken and
engraved. The prizes gained by the Crathes stock count by the hundred.
On the lamented death of Sir Thomas Burnett he was succeeded by his
brother, Sir Alexander Burnett, who kept up the stock; and at his death
he was succeeded by the present proprietor, Sir James Burnett, who has
added drafts from the best stocks in the country. There is no doubt the
Crathes herd will remain true to its ancient fame.

In Aberdeenshire the breeders of polled cattle are very numerous, but
we shall only mention a few. William M'Combie, of Easter Skene, has
always stuck to the polled breed, and his stock have been conspicuous
as prize-takers. His cow, "Queen of Scots," beat Lord Southesk's "Dora"
and ten other fine cows in 1853, and "Roderick Dhu" gained the first
prize the same year, while "Alastor the Second" beat "Fox Maule" at
Aberdeen--the only time that animal ever was beaten. One ox I purchased
from Mr M'Combie gained the first prize at Glasgow at the last fat show
held by the Highland Society.[5]

[5] Mr M'Combie has taken a very prominent position since the
above was written. At the Highland Society's show at Aberdeen he
gained the first prize for the best yearling bull, the first
prize for the best two-year-old bullock, and other prizes.

Colonel Fraser, of Castle Fraser, has also stuck to the Aberdeen and
Angus polled cattle. His stock take a prominent place at the Royal
Northern Agr