410 THK ZOOLOGIST. 



is the largest number recorded during recent years. An idea or 

 tradition prevailed that the number could not be raised beyond 

 21, so the late Earl tried the experiment, and succeeded in April, 

 1851, in getting the number up to 48. The late Mr. E. P. Shirley, 

 in November, 1873, recorded 27 ; the late Rev. John Storer, in 

 July, 1874, found 25, and apparently an increase of two or three 

 in the December following. In June, 1877, Mr. A. H. Cocks* 

 found the number reduced to 20. Mr. J. R. B. Masefield,t whose 

 visit was apparently about 1884, remarks that " a few years ago 

 the number was reduced to 17 "; but at the time of his visit the 

 number was 28, and three had been recently killed. Mr. E. de 

 Hamel, | in May, 1886, found 30. The existence of this herd, 

 according to Sir Oswald Mosley (Hist. Tutbury, Co. Stafford, 

 1832), seems to be traceable further back even than that of 

 Chillingham— namely, to 1248-49. The animals in this herd are 

 heavier in front and lighter behind than any of the other herds ; 

 in general shape and character, both of bodies and horns, they 

 closely resemble the old domestic breed of Staffordshire long- 

 horns. The colour is uniform — white, with black noses, ears, 

 and feet, sometimes ticked. Occasionally black calves are born, 

 but are not kept. An old tradition says that the birth of a black 

 calf means a death in the family of Ferrers. The number of 

 calves reared annually would average about half the number of 

 breeding cows. The udders of the cows are remarkably small, 

 and incline forwards at an angle — very unlike the huge gland of 

 a domestic cow. There is no evidence or knowledge of fresh blood 

 having at any time been introduced. Lay cows were formerly 

 admitted to the park, and crosses with the wild bulls obtained, 

 but this was stopped twenty years ago. The result of these crosses 

 was very good meat, but the cross-breeds were very awkward to 

 milk or handle.§ The park is nearly 1000 acres, and is in its 

 natural, original condition. It has never been manured, or 



* ' Zoologist,' 1878, p. 276. 



f Proc. North Staffordshire Nat. Field Club, 1885, p. 33. 



I Handbook for the use of the British Association when visiting 

 Birmingham, 1886. 



§ A heifer calf born in 1875 from a domestic cow by a wild bull was 

 said to resemble the wild animals very closely. Seen in the distance, 

 the clear white, characteristic of the young of the park herds, was con- 

 spicuous. 



