SPANISH CATTLE. (See Texas Cattle.) SUSSEX CATTLE. Youatt says of the Sussex cattle, undoubtedly a subfamily of the Devons, that the Sussex ox holds an intermediate place between the Devon and Hereford, with much of the activity of the first and the strength of the second, and the propensity to fatten, and the beautiful fine-grained flesh of both. Exper ience has shown that it possesses as many of the good qualities of both as can be combined in one frame. The Sussex ox is of a deep chestnut red—some, however, prefer a blood-bay: devia tion from this color indicates some stain in the breed. The hide of the true Sussex is soft and mellow; a coarse, harsh, thick hide denotes here, as in every, other district, an ill-bred or an unthrifty beast. The coat is short and sleek There is seldom found on the Sussex ox that profusion of soft and wavy, and, occasionally, long hair, which, although it may have the ap pearance of roughness, is consistent with a mel low and yielding hide, and one of the truest indications of more than usual propensity to fatten. The Sussex cow, like the Hereford one, is very inferior to the ox; she seems to be almost another kind of animal. The breeder has endeavored, but with comparatively little suc cess, to give to the heifer the same points that the ox possesses. The Sussex cow ought to have a deep red color, the hair fine and the skiu mellow, thin and soft; a small head, a fine horn, thin; clean and transparent, which should run out horizontally, and afterwards turn up at the tips; the neck very thin and clean made; a small leg; a straight top and bottom, with round and springing ribs ; thick chine; loin, hips, and rump wide; shoulder flat—hut the projection of the point of the shoulder is not liked, as the cat tle subject to this defect are usually coarse; the legs should be rather short; carcase large; the tail should be level with the rump. The Sussex cow does not answer for the dairy. Although her milk is of very good quality, it is so inferior in quantity to that of the Holderness or the Suf folk, that she is little regarded for the making of butter or cheese. There is one great fault about
the Sussex cows seemingly inconsistent with their 1."opensity to fatten, and which can not be remedied. Their countenance indicates an un quiet temper; and they are often restless and dissatisfied, prowling about the hedge-rows, and endeavoring to break pasture, and especi ally if they are taken from the farm on which they were bred. They are principally kept as breeders, all the use being made of them at the same time as dairy cows of which circumstances will admit. And it can not be denied that they are generally in fair condition, even while they are milking: and that no beasts, except their kindred, the Devons and the Herefords, will thrive so speedily after they are dried. The secretion of milk being stopped, the Sussex cow will fatten even quicker than the ox. It must, However, be acknowledged that the Sussex cows are not perfect even as breeders. Some of the ancient Britons sought refuge from the attacks of their invaders, amid the fastnesses of the Weald of East Sussex. Thither they drove, or there they found some of the native cattle of the country; and they anxiously preserved them free from all admixture. The resemblance between the Sussex and the Devon oxen is very great. They unquestionably betray the same origin. The Sussex ox has a small and well formed head, compared with many other breeds, and even with the Hereford, but evidently coarser than that of the Devon; the horns pushing forward a little and then turning upward, thin, tapering and long—not so as to confound this breed with the long horns. The eye is full, large and mild in the ox; but with some degree of unquietness in the cow. The throat clean, and the neek, compared with either the long horns or the short tles, long and thin, yet evidently coarser than that of the Devon.