The Wild Cattle of ChillingJiam. 1 3 7 



and Northumberland, or, as some phrase it, " the little 

 kingdom of Kelso and Northumberland." The Dishley 

 blood found its way to the Border in 1767, through 

 Messrs. George and Matthew Culley, one of Crookham 

 Eastfield, and the other of Wark, who went from the 

 banks of the Tees to the Tweedside. One or both of 

 the brothers had been pupils of Mr. Bakewell. They 

 were in partnership to the end of their lives, but took 

 up different lines — George undertaking the manage- 

 ment of the flock, while Matthew was more devoted to 

 agriculture, irrigation, and essays. In process of time 

 Mr. Robert Thompson, who had also studied under 

 Mr. Bakewell, established a Dishley flock first at Lil- 

 burn, and then at Chillingham Barns. The late Mr. 

 Grey of Dilston confirms Mr. Wilson's pamphlet as to 

 this point, and adds that there were two distinct 

 Dishley families upon these Border farms. We meet 

 with no notice of these two tribes of " blue caps" and 

 "red legs" in any Bakewell records, but they have 

 been described to us by Mr. Grey. The blue-headed 

 Leicesters, which are now quite out of favour on the 

 Border, were generally rather tender when lambed, 

 and soft-woolled on the scalp, which made them very 

 sensitive to fly-galls. They were handsomer and of 

 greater length than the " red legs," very good feeders, 

 but rather delicate and light in their wool. Mr. Ro- 

 bertson of Ladykirk and Mr. Thompson of Bogend 

 (his tenant) bought " blue caps" from Mr. Stone, which 

 came, three or four in a cart, from Leicestershire, and 

 were met half-way. The "red legs" were nearer the 

 ground, very compact, with less fat and more fibre, 

 and were generally hardier, and had a more closely- 

 planted fleece. 



The Culleys and Robert Thompson, and the Kelso 

 and Northumberland men, came to the Ladykirk 

 lettings, as well as McDougall's of Cessford. At 

 Chillingham Barns the fleeces were hung up and 

 ticketed for the early show, which gradually merged 



