
WHITE CATTLE: AN INQUIRY INTO THEIR ORIGIN, ETC. 423 
forest lands ; and forest catile then were as much domesticated 
as our ranche cattle are now. 
The entry I have quoted regarding the Earl of Rutland’s 
shipment of “wild cows,” I think, refers to a white breed, as 
from the extract I now quote from the Report of the Historical 
MSS. Commission —Duke of Rutland’s MSS., I think it probable 
that about this time the Earl may have disposed of his white 
park cattle. Under date 4th August, 1669, Lord Chaworth 
writes to the Countess of Rutland :—‘TI have made boulde to 
presentt your Ladyship a small taste off a white wilde oxe from 
my Parke—killed by my owne hand. I had not presumed so much 
but that I have heard my Lorde off Rutland saye they were orrigin- 
ally his att Beskewood Parke, from whence I had that breed.” 
Beechwood Park was enclosed or “paled” about the time of 
Edward IIT., and when Lord Chaworth got his animals would 
be, I think, when the others went to Belgium. Sending a 
“taste” of beef seems to have been a favourite method of 
making gifts. We find in the same report thirty-six years 
later (22nd December, 1705), a letter from Lord Gower to the 
Duke of Rutland, in which he states that he ‘is sending a brace 
of Trentham oxen for a ’Xmas present.” He does not add, 
however, like the former present giver—‘ Killed by my owne 
hand.” 
At a later date we see the influence of a “fancy” for white 
colouring still at work— 
“‘ Five hundred white stots I'll gie you 
If ye’ll let Hughie Greme gae free.” 
The change in colour seems to have been easily accomplished, 
according to a Northumbrian saying noted in The Durham Tracts— 
‘*The red bull of Berrington 
Gaed oure the hills to Hurrington, 
And knock’d its head atween twae stanes, 
And came milk-white back again.” 
We have also an early reference to a dun cow, which has been 
regarded both as mythical and yet historical. I refer to the 
animal slain by Guy Earl of Warwick— 
‘* A monstrous wild and cruel beast 
Called the dun cow of Ditnsmore heath,” 
