India in 1887 as seen by Robert Wallace / [Robert Wallace].

  • Robert Wallace
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: India in 1887 as seen by Robert Wallace / [Robert Wallace]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    place of bullocks. It is rather strange to find this custom existing in India, as Hindoos hold the cow so sacred that they will not, as a rule, hear of her being reduced to per- form the duties of a menial office. The colour of the eyes, nose, and points is black. The shoulder is remarkably neat. The thighs are well- rounded, but are not fleshy. The leg bones are thin and refined, showing signs of breeding. The escutcheon in this case is very wide, high up on the thighs, and even between the hip bones ; it tapers as it descends. The colour of the udder and teats of many specimens of this and the allied Trichi breed is tan. At times, too, the chocolate colour of skin appears. British Cattle Belong to the species Bos taurns. Many different breeds have been taken to districts representative of all varieties of Indian climatic conditions. Unsuccessful.—In no case have the efforts to establish European blood, either in its pure form or crossed with native cattle, met with that success which would warrant those who have gained experience in the matter to con- tinue their efforts on anything but what we might term a “hobby” scale. Some of the reasons why European cattle do not succeed have already been pointed out. English cattle live and even thrive if properly cared for and sheltered, but they must be pronounced a failure when left to the natural influences of climate, such as the native cattle are enabled to withstand. In saying they thrive it is not implied that they retain all their good qualities, as when kept in the best possible way European cows cannot be got to yield anything like the quantity of milk that they give at home, and their crosses, which are only middling milkers at the best, unless highly fed and carefully nurtured, are very poor indeed. Plate XXVI. (a) shows a cross between a shorthorn bull