AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION. xvi; 



parts of England or Scotland in the present day — nearly 

 or quite unsaleable. The white herds could not have 

 held their own, as they have done, in spite of this mass 

 of prejudice, had they not possessed the prestige of 

 great antiquity, and been derived from a race long con- 

 sidered of superior value to all others. Old traditions 

 clustered round them, and gave them an unique value 

 and interest in the eyes both of their few and usually 

 rich owners, and of the people of the neighbourhoods 

 in which they were kept. 



Bewick was a Northumbrian, and well acquainted 



with the Chillingham herd. He was a wood-engraver, 



living at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and in spirit combined 



with truthfulness his engravings of animals have never 



been surpassed ; he was also a clever and enthusiastic 



naturalist. In 1790 he published his " General History 



of Quadrupeds," illustrated by his own engravings. 



His statement in that work is as follows : — " There 



was formerly a very singular species of Wild Cattle in 



this country, which is now nearly extinct. Numerous 



herds of them were kept in several parks in England 



and Scotland, but they have been destroyed by various 



means ; and the only breeds now remaining in the 



kingdom are in the park at Chillingham Castle, in 



Northumberland ; at Wollaton, in Nottinghamshire, 



the seat of Lord Middleton ; at Gisburne, in Craven, in 



Yorkshire ; at Limehall, in Cheshire ; and at Chartley, 



in Staffordshire." In addition, he mentions the herds 



at Burton Constable and Drumlanrig, then recently 



extinct. 



In this account Bewick does not allude to the 

 Hamilton herd, now so well known, possibly for reasons 

 which I shall afterwards consider. Nor does he take any 



