AMOS CRUICKSHANK OF SITTYTON. 627 



some of his very best cattle, including Grand 

 Duke of Gloster (26288), Pride of the Isles 

 (35072), Bridesman (30586) and the handsome 

 Mimulus were bred from Lord Raglan cows. 



Lancaster Comet (11663). Mr. Cruickshank 

 had long been partial to the stock of Wilkinson 

 of Lenton. We have already noted his efforts 

 at introducing the blood through the Lancas- 

 ters and Lavenders. Robert Bruce relates that 

 in speaking of his first visit to Lenton to in- 

 spect Mr. Wilkinson's herd Mr. Cruickshank 

 said : " After seeing the cattle I was so excited 

 that when I tried to write to Anthony at night 

 I could not use a pen. I had to write with a 

 pencil." This little incident proves two things. 

 First, the fact that in spite of his habitual self- 

 control Amos Cruickshank possessed a quiet en- 

 thusiasm capable of being thoroughly aroused. 

 It indicates also that there was something in 

 the Wilkinson stock not found in other con- 

 temporary herds. In fact the Lenton blood 

 alone seems to have been the subject of Mr. 

 Cruickshank's steadfast devotion. 



In the autumn of 1858 it was thought desira- 

 ble to purchase a stock bull for use at Sittyton. 

 A good young red one was desired at that time. 

 Mr. Cruickshank wrote to Wilkinson, inquiring 

 if he could furnish such a bull. He replied that 

 he could not, but recommended old Lancaster 

 Comet (11663), then in his eighth year, which 



