210 WILD WHITE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



never received any cross? The fact that the recent 

 extinction within a few years of two celebrated wild 

 herds, at GKsburne Park, and at Wollaton, and their 

 being almost extinct at Lyme, is attributed by those 

 who knew them best to long-continued inter-breeding, 

 ought to make us pause before we assume, except upon 

 conclusive evidence, that the Chillingham herd has not 

 received for ages any fresh blood. 



Culley's statement that they have not is abundantly 

 strong : — 



" One of the most conclusive arguments," says he, 

 " that crossing with different stock is not necessary to 

 secure size, hardiness, &c, is the breed of wild cattle in 

 Chillingham Park, in the county of Northumberland. 

 It is well known these cattle have been confined in this 

 park for several hundred years, without any inter- 

 mixture, and are, perhaps, the purest breed of cattle of 

 any in the kingdom. From their situation and un- 

 controlled state, they must indisputably have bred from 

 the nearest affinities in every possible degree ; yet we 

 find these cattle exceedingly hardy, healthy, and well 

 formed, and their size, as well as colour, and many 

 other particulars and peculiarities, the same as they 

 were five hundred years since." .... " From these 

 instances it appears there can be no danger in breeding 

 from the nearest affinities, provided they are possessed 

 in a superior degree of the qualities we wish to acquire." 



A very bold assertion indeed, but a mere assertion, 

 unaccompanied by any even presumptive evidence, much 

 less by any proof. " It is," says he, " well known " 

 that " for several hundred " years " these cattle " have 

 never received " any intermixture." One would have 

 supposed it would have been " well known " to the 



