WILD WHITE CATTLE. 403 



that the cattle have somewhat deteriorated in size within their 

 recollection ; but there is nothing to prove this, and it must be 

 remembered that by degrees things appear smaller than the recol- 

 lection of the first impression received as children. 



At Chillingham, Chartley, and Hamilton, the heads seem 

 slightly larger in proportion to their bodies than in ordinary 

 cattle, the feet larger and broader, and the legs stouter. ^lay not 

 these be taken as indications of a certain amount of deterioration 

 in their size? At Chillingham the cattle have a "fine-drawn" 

 almost " washed-out" appearance, which may be considered as the 

 result of close breeding, and the fact of more male than female 

 calves being born is probably the efi'ect of the same cause. It is 

 interesting to note that in the semi- or wholly-domest cated herds 

 at Vaynol, Somerford, and Woodbastwick, the calves are extremely 

 shy when first born, and only become accustomed to human beings 

 by degrees. 



If it is not beyond our province to make a suggestion, it 

 would be extremely interesting if the noble owners of the three 

 ancient herds would co-operate with some other owner of a large 

 park — if haply such could be found— willing to undertake the 

 following experiment: — Namely, that all calves which would 

 ordinarily be converted into veal or steers should instead be sent 

 to build up a new herd, which, combining the blood of the only 

 remaining ancient herds, and with no artificial selection exercised, 

 might be expected to revert more nearly to the aboriginal wild 

 type than could be achieved in any other manner. 



Hamilton (Cadzow). — On August 22nd last this herd was 

 made up as follows :— Bulls : 2, six years old; 1, five years 

 old; 2, three years old; 6, two years old; five calves; total, 

 16 bulls. Females: 25 cows, four years old and upwards; 10 

 heifers, two years old ; 9 yearlings and calves; total, 44 females. 

 Total, 60 head (against 54 at the beginning of the year). The 

 coloration and markings are tolerably uniform, though ten years 

 ago, at any rate, there was a variety in the amount of black on 

 the outside of the ears, and in a slight degree in the amount on 

 the muzzle. Any that are defective in their points are slaughtered 

 or made into steers ; there are none of the latter at the present 

 moment in the park, but two were shot last October, and some of 

 the young bulls will be operated on in the fall. There is a good deal 

 of black on the fore legs in this herd, the hoofs are black, also tips 



