WHITE CATTLE : AN INQUIRY INTO THEIR ORIGIN, ETC. 267 



fairly accurate within the period named — 100 years. I think 

 I have evidence that this tradition is a correct statement. In 

 Vol. X. of '• Arch^ologia/'" the Rev. Samuel Pegge, writing in 1790 

 on "The Wild Bull," savs :— " The late Marmaduke Cuthbert 

 Tunstall of Wycliffe, Esq., sent me a print, not long since, of the 

 wild bull of the ancient Caledonian breed, now ranging in the 

 park at ChillingJiam Castle, in Northumberland. Mr. Tunstall 

 was no contemptible judge of these matters." I think this notice 

 shows that the Caledonian breed was a recent acquisition at 

 Chillinsfham. I mav sav that I find that the Drumlanrisr tradition 

 was discussed by the Newcastle Antiquarian Society, but held to 

 be incorrect, as the Land Agent for Lord Tankerville stated that 

 the Chillingham cattle had been imparked for 400 years. Yet, 

 according to the County historians. Chillingham Park does not 

 appear in the Elizabethan maps, so that the subject still needs to 

 be inquired into. ^ 



I have now directed attention to this imported race, which 

 made its appearance with the Romans, or was imported pre- 

 viously by the Druids, and round which Druidical and Roman 

 traditions and superstitions gathered, and by raising it apparently 

 to a higher level, either on account of colour, size, or some other 

 quality than the common cattle, has led to its being valued and 

 preserved as it has been. 



Mention has been made of the cross breed between the Celtic 

 Shorthorns and Roman cattle. This cross (the first cross in 

 British live stock) apparently did not stand, or reverted, for 

 the hundreds of horn cores found in mediaeval ditches show 

 that the cattle then were of the Bos longifrons type pure and 

 simple. These cattle would all be dark-coloured, probably black. 

 Dr. Murray, the editor of the " New English Dictionary," had a 

 query in '•' Notes and Queries '"' regarding black cattle as a term, 

 which he was informed, and he found some dictionaries said, 

 meant all boves without restriction of kind or colour. AYebster 



^ It is admitted, I believe, that at one time the breed depended on some 

 of the cows producing a bull cali. It is also interesting to find that the 

 specimen given to the British Museum in the early part cf this century is 

 entered in the catalogue (page 79) as under : — 



"83g. White Scotch Bull, stuffed, Chillingham Park. Presented by 



the Earl of Tankerville. "' 



