136 REPORT— 1887. 



Date of enclosure unknown, but the present park occupies a portion of 

 the old Caledonian Forest, in which Robert Bruce is traditionally stated 

 to have hunted the wild bull in 1320, and where in 1500, James IV. of 

 Scotland took part in the same wild sport. 



The above are probably the only herds remaining on the ground in 

 which they were originally enclosed. 



Somerfbrd Park, near Congleton, Cheshire (Sir Charles W. Shakerley, 

 Bart., C.B.) The cattle cannot bo traced hei'e more than about 200 years, 

 though it is possible they have been there since the original enclosure of 

 the park ; it is perhaps more likely that they were brought in the seven- 

 teenth century from Middleton Park, Lancashire, which herd in turn is 

 supposed to have come from Whalley Abbey. 



The Middleton Herd is now represented by offshoots (to some extent 

 cross-bred, however, and now, like the Somerford herd, domesticated) at 

 Blickling, near Aylsham, Norfolk (the Marchioness of Lothian), and at 

 Woodbastwick Hall, near Norwich (A. Cator, Esq.). The cattle were 

 removed from Middleton about 176-5 to Gunton Park, Norwich (Lord 

 Suffield), where they became extinct in 1853 ; but some had meanwhile — 

 viz., between 1793 and 1810 ' — been introduced to Blickling, and others 

 in 1840 were sold to Mr. Cator of Woodbastwick. 



The herd at Vaynol, near Carnarvon (G. "W. DnfiF-Assheton-Smith, 

 Esq.), was started in 1872 from stock purchased from Sir John Powlett 

 Orde, of Kilmory House, Argyllshire. This stock (now somewhat crossed) 

 was originally at Blair Athol, Perthshire. In 1834 the herd was sold to 

 the Marquis of Breadalbane, Taymouth, and to the Duke of Buccleuch, 

 Dalkeith. When the latter herd was broken up, the late Sir John Orde 

 purchased the only survivor and transpoi'ted it to Argyllshire. In 1886 

 the entire remainder of the Kilmory herd was transferred to Vaynol, and 

 added to the cattle already there. 



At Hamilton, Chartley, and Somerford persons who have known the 

 herds for a number of years have expressed the opinion that the cattle 

 have somewhat deteriorated in size within their recollection; but there is 

 nothing to prove this, and it must be recollected that by degrees things 

 appear smaller than the recollection of the first impression received as 

 children. 



At Chillingham, Chartley, and Hamilton, the wild cattle's heads seem 

 slightly larger in proportion to their bodies than in ordinary cattle, the 

 feet larger and broader, and the legs stouter. May 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 the result of close breeding, and the 

 fact of more male than female calves being born is probably the effect 

 of the same cause. 



It is interesting that in the semi- or wholly-domesticated 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 

 ' Storer, Wild White Cattle, p. 307. 



