142 REPOKT — 1887. 



1877, Mr. A. H. Cocks • found the number reduced to 20. Mr. J. R. B. 



Masefield,^ 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 

 aumber was 28, and three had been recently kiUed. Mr. E. de Hamel,' in 

 May 1886, found 30. 



This herd's existence seems to be traceable further back even than 

 Chillingham — namely, to 1248-49, according to Sir Oswald Mosley 

 ('Hist. Tutbury, co. Stafford,' 1832). 



The colour is uniform — white, with black noses, ears and feet, some- 

 times 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. 



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-breds were very awk- 

 ward to milk or handle.^ 



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 Staf- 

 fordshire longhorns. 



The udders of the cows are remarkably small, and incline forwards at 

 an angle — very unlike the huge gland of a domestic cow. 



In winter the cattle are fed on hay in sheds. 



The park is nearly 1,000 aci'es, and is in its natural, original con- 

 dition. It has never been manured, or broken up, or seeds sown, and 

 contains a very great variety of wild plants. 



Vaynol. — In August the herd consisted of 53 animals — namely, 1 old 

 bull, 2 young ditto, about 20 cows, and about 30 heifers and calves of 

 both sexes. 



They are short-legged, straight-backed animals, all white with black 

 muzzles, black tips to the ears, and more or less black about the hoofs, 

 varying, however, in individuals, some being only faintly marked in this 

 way. They all have horns, not very long, sharp, and turned up at the 

 ends, but not quite uniform. 



In winter they are fed with hay, but are never housed, and none of 

 the cows are ever milked. The beef is of excellent quality. 



The original importation of this herd from Kilmory took place in 1872, 

 consisting of 22 head — namely, 1 bull, 9 cows, 6 heifers rising two years, 

 6 yearling steers. 



In May 1882 the herd numbered 37 or 38, including 8 young calves, 

 and 1 bull, which would be killed when three years old. 



In August 1886 the remainder of the Kilmory herd were brought here 



' Zoologist, 1878, p. 276. 



* Proceedings N. Staffordshire Naturalists' Field Club, 1885, p. 33. 



' Handhooh prepared for the lese of the British Association when visiting Birming- 

 ham, 1886 



■• A heifer calf was born in 1875 out of a domestic cow by a wild bull; the heifer 

 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 conspicuous. 



