LANARKSHIRE RAMBLES. 9 



these measured 14^ at 3A, and another i6j% at 4^ feet, the cir- 

 cumference of the spread of branches of the former being 225 feet. 



The cattle are singularly beautiful, with straight back and fair 

 underline, their bodies white with black markings. The tips of 

 their small, turned-up, white horns, the muzzles, eyes, ears, hoofs, 

 and the forelegs up nearly to the knee are black. The roof of 

 the mouth and the tip of the tongue are of the same colour. The 

 most marked features that may be held as indicating wildness are 

 the watchfulness of their quick black eyes and their restlessness 

 and alertness in the presence of any intruder. The calves are 

 also very shy, and when separated from the herd and put in 

 enclosures in autumn they continue mistrustful of man, re- 

 treating as far as possible with their suspicious black eyes fixed 

 on him. The bulls are usually considered to be exceedingly 

 fierce. Among themselves they are savage enough. The law of 

 battle prevails, and in spite of enclosures they frequently settle 

 the question of herd supremacy. Several bulls as a rule perish 

 yearly in these contests, for they fight to the death with unmiti- 

 gated ferocity. So far as man is concerned there is no reason to 

 treat them with special distrust ; but prudent watchfulness is 

 required as with all bulls. The herd is, indeed, not easily 

 approached by man. They scamper off on the least occasion, till 

 on being hard pressed they take panic and charge. There are 

 tales of persons being hunted by them and taking to trees, such 

 as a bird-catcher " treed " by a bull, when, as the Rev. William 

 Patrick remarks, " he had occasion to observe the habits of the 

 animal." 



As to the early history of such cattle in Scotland little is known 

 of a satisfactory kind. Hector Boece describes wild cattle in 

 Scotland with a dash of the lion in them (1526-7), and other 

 writers follow his lead. A herd of white forest-cattle at Cumber- 

 nauld is referred to in a State paper of 1570. Sir Robert Sibbald 

 in his Scotia Illustrata (1684) quotes certain references as to the 

 forest-cattle, but holds that they are not so savage as stated, and 

 do not differ in form from domestic ones. He adds that he 

 knows nothing of maned bisons. 



Of the early history of the Cadzow herd nothing is known. 

 When the forest was enclosed is even unknown. Cadzow was 

 probably a seat of the ancient British kings, and was undoubtedly 



