274 Mr. L. Hindmarsli on the 



XXXU.—On the Wild Cattle of Chillingham Park. By L. 

 HiNDMARSii, Esq., of Alnwick*. 



The history of every country is one of change. This applies not 

 only to man and his social relations, but to everything animate 

 and inanimate. In some localities the sea has become dry 

 land ; in others, the soil which once flourished with vegetation 

 has become the bed of the ocean. Sterile wastes have been 

 transmuted into fertile plains, and dense forests into culti- 

 vated fields ; and many of those animals which once roamed 

 through them in ferocious independence are swept away, and 

 are only found in those historic records which nature has pre- 

 served in her great museum of fossil remains. The rapid pro- 

 gress of population and culture has accelerated the depopula- 

 tion of wild animals, and within a period not very remote, has 

 rid this country of many of its ferocious inhabitants. Bears, 

 which formerly infested this island, were extirpated at a com- 

 paratively early period ; yet there is evidence of their existence 

 in Scotland so late as the year 1057? when a Gordon, in reward 

 for his prowess in killing one, w as directed by the king to 

 carry three bears' heads upon his banner. After them the 

 ■wild boar and wolf were finally exterminated. Of the latter, 

 one was however destroyed in Scotland so late as 1680, and 

 in Ireland some were found even so far down as 1710. Of the 

 wild ox it is probable that one remnant at least survives in the 

 wild cattle of Chillingham Park, Northumberland, the pro- 

 perty of the Earl of Tankerville. Their origin, character, and 

 habits form the subject of the present inquiry. 



In promotion of this object we have been most obligingly 

 favoured by their present noble and accomplished proprietor 

 with the following very interesting account of them, which 

 needs no further preface to its introduction in this place. The 

 following is an exact copy. 



„ g- . " Grosvenor Square, June 8, 1838. 



"Some time since I promised to put down upon paper whatever I 

 knew as to the origin, or thought most deserving of notice in respect 

 to the habits and peculiarities of the wild cattle at Chillingham. I now 

 proceed to redeem my promise, begging your pardon for the delay. 



* Read before the late Meeting of the British Association at Newcastle, 

 and communicated by the Author. 



