CHAPTER XI. 



The Chartley Herd— Early Notices of these Cattle as " Wild Beasts "—Black 

 Calves considered a fatal Omen — My own first Visit — Grand and Massive 

 Character of the Cattle — The Herd "Long-horns" — My Second Visit — 

 Peculiar Characteristics of these Cattle — They resemhle those in Somerford 

 Park — Not so wild as the Chillingham Cattle — Black Calves — Attempts to 

 cross the Herd — White Cattle in the Neighbourhood — Mr. Chandos-Pole- 

 Gell's Description — Mr. Thornton's. 



The Chartley Herd is the only other herd of wild 

 cattle in England,* besides the Chillingham, which 

 still remains in its pristine state, and it has on that 

 acconnt, and for the sake of its own merits, the greatest 

 claim to onr notice. Chartley Castle, to whose lords it 

 has belonged for more than 600 years, is sitnated in the 

 central part of the county of Stafford, bnt somewhat 

 nearer to its eastern than its western side. To the east 

 and south-east, very few miles distant, are the Eoyal 

 domains of Cannock Chase and Needwood Forest, which 

 last must have formerly extended nearly or quite up to 

 it; while at a still shorter distance, towards the north- 

 east, begin to rise the hills which, running up into 

 Derbyshire, form the southern point of that central 

 backbone of mountains which have been appropriately 

 called the " British Apennines." A better country in 

 olden days for wild sport cannot be conceived. After 

 the Conquest, Chartley belonged to the great Norman 



* The Hamilton, or Cadzow, herd still exists in Scotland, and will be 

 considered in its proper place: 



