160 WILD WHITE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



understanding is re-established. The cows generally 

 commence breeding at three, and continue to breed for 

 a few years. When they calve they hide their young 

 for a week or ten days, and repair to the place of con- 

 cealment two or three times a day for the purpose of 

 suckling them. Should any person happen to approach 

 their hiding-place, the calves clap their heads close to 

 the ground, and lie in form like a hare. 



" They bear the winter well, but in severe weather 

 will come into a fold to eat hay, although they will not 

 taste turnips. They are seldom allowed to live more 

 than eight or nine years, at which period they begin to 

 go back. When slaughtered, the steers are usually six 

 years old, and weigh about 5 cwts. (40 stone). The 

 beef is finely marbled, but in taste scarcely distinguish- 

 able* from that of the domestic ox when fed on grass. 

 By taking the calves at a very early age, and treating 

 them gently, the present keeper succeeded in domesti- 

 cating an ox and a cow. They became as tame as 

 domestic animals, and the ox fed as rapidly as a Short- 

 horn steer. He lived eighteen years, and when at 

 his best was computed at 8 cwts. 14 lb. (65 stones). 

 The cow only lived five or six years. She gave little 

 milk,. but the quality was rich. She was crossed by a 

 country bull ; but her progeny very closely resembled 

 herself, being entirely white, excepting the ears, which 

 were brown, and the legs, which were mottled. 



" In their wild state few die from disease, and in the 

 present keeper's time few from calving. It is remarkable 

 that during the thirty-three years Mr. Cole has been 



* This is certainly a mistake. I and many of my neighbours, who 

 tasted the round of beef sent to me from Chillingham, at Christmas, 1874, 

 are prepared to maintain the contrary. 



