CHILLINGHAM BREED 37 



the Zebu race or humped cattle o^ India the Bos Indicus 

 the skins of which are mostly jet black, though some coloured 

 varieties are of a yellowish or nut-brown colour. 



Storer says : " The tongues of the Chillingham cattle are 

 slate-coloured above, and of a reddish-brown colour on the 

 under side ; the teats of the cows, unlike those at Chartley, 

 are white ; and, although the muzzle is black, the under lip is 

 white." And again : " Besides the red ears (' inside and about 

 one-third of the outside from the tip downwards '), a faint line 

 of red hair exists, as if drawn by a pencil, immediately above 

 the dark and hairless muzzle." [" Formerly they had a very 

 strong predisposition to have red or black ears indifferently ; 

 and the uniformly red ear which has of late years prevailed 

 is solely the result of selection, the black-eared ones (as 

 all others improperly coloured), having been destroyed."] 

 Quoting from Lord Tankerville, he adds : " In form they are 

 beautifully shaped. They have short legs, straight back, 

 horns of a very fine texture, thin skin [coat of hair], so that 

 some of the bulls appear of a cream colour ; and they have a 

 peculiar cry, more like that of a wild beast than that of 

 ordinary cattle." 



In 1891 Lord Tankerville wrote : "These peculiarities of 

 colour and markings are very uniform and distinctive in the 

 wild herd. They are pure white when first calved and licked 

 clean by their mothers, but become of a more creamy white 

 colour afterwards. The horns are white, with black tips ; the 

 hoofs and noses are black ; the eyes are fringed with long 

 eyelashes, which give them depth of character ; their bodies 

 are symmetrically formed ; and their fine shoulders enable 

 them to trot like match horses with amazing rapidity." 



The herd has been well and graphically termed "an 

 absolute Monarchy " under the tyrannical and forceful rule 

 of the " King bull," who, in virtue of his superior strength 

 and vigour, holds office usually for a few (two or three) years, 

 or, in other words, till he is challenged and, sooner or later, 

 overthrown by a younger rival in a fierce encounter. These 

 deposed monarchs often lead a solitary life afterwards, and, 

 becoming ill-natured with age and adversity, are dangerous 

 to encounter. As males and females roam uncontrolled, the 

 cows calve at all periods of the year, and naturally most 

 frequently in January and February. Twins are unknown. 

 A calf lies concealed like a fawn for two or three days in a 

 secluded place, where the watchful mother, leaving the others, 

 visits it at intervals to suckle it. When it is strong enough to 



