14 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i. 



in 1883, which was the last year he was used, all the calves came 

 pure white, save black ears and noses. The next bull used was a son 

 of the last, and the result was satisfactory as regards markings, 

 although more calves were black- than red-pointed. At different 

 times some three or four Shorthorn bulls have been used, with a view 

 of improving the hind-quarters, which are rather light. The animals 

 are inclined to be weak in the loins, and their coats get very fine. 

 This last cross did not prove very successful as regards marking, 

 all the calves turning out pure white, ears and all, a few having a 

 promise of horns ; while the character of the head differs from 

 that of the old type, which was short and broad between the eyes. 

 The cattle, from interbreeding, became delicate and thin in the co-at, 

 but the Shorthorn cross much improved this. The white of the 

 Shorthorn appears yellow by the side of the pure white of the park 

 breed. Though not considered hardy, the cattle are good milkers 

 when well fed. This herd originated from Gunton stock, the late 

 Mr. Cator having bought one cow at a sale about the year 1832. This 

 cow threw a bull-calf, and at various times subsequently the herd was 

 recruited by red-pointed calves from Blickling. These cattle are kept 

 in fields, and do not enjoy the wide range of a park. The soil is poor 

 and gravelly. The animals are stalled all the winter and fed on turnips, 

 and in severe weather oilcake is given in addition. 



The following wild herds mentioned by Mr. Harting are all now 

 extinct, where possible the date, exact or approximate, of extinction 

 is included within parentheses- : Ardrossan Castle, Ayrshire (1820) ; 

 Auchencruive, Ayrshire (between 1763 and 1784) ; Barnard Castle, 

 Durham (since 1626); Bishop Auckland, Durham (1646); Blair 

 Athole, Perthshire (1834) ; Burton Constable, Yorkshire (before 1790) ; 

 Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfriesshire (about 1780) ; Ewelme Park, 

 Oxfordshire; Gisburne Park, Yorkshire (1859); Hoghton Park, 

 Lancashire (about 1680 1700) ; Holdenby Park, Northamptonshire ; 

 Leigh Court, Somerset (the only instance yet known of a wild herd in 

 the West of England ; there is no clue to their origin, and in 1806 

 they had become so savage that the owner was obliged to have them 

 shot) ; Lyme Park, Cheshire (1884) ; Middleton Park, Lancashire 

 (herd removed in 1765 to Gunton Park, Norfolk, where they ceased to 

 exist in 1853, though not before some of the cattle had been trans- 

 ferred to Blickling Hall, and others to Woodbastwick) ; Naworth 

 Castle, Cumberland (before 1675; ; Whalley Abbey, Lancashire (1697, 

 about which time the herd appears to have been divided between 

 Gisburne Park and Middleton Hall) ; Wollaton Park, Nottinghamshire 

 (between 1800 and 1835). In Ireland no trace of these wild cattle* 

 has been discovered, although remains of the smaller Bos longifrons 

 have been found in many Irish localities. 



The subjoined remarks are taken from Mr. J. E. Harting's account 

 of Wild White Cattle, in the appendix to his " Extinct British 

 Animals " : 



The few scattered herds of so-called Wild White Cattle which still 

 exist in Parks in England and Scotland may be said to form a 



