220 WILD WHITE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



Forest of Needwood, and were driven into this park 

 during the reign of Henry III. " About this time " 

 (32nd and 33rd of Henry III., that is, a.d. 1248—1249, 

 says Mosley) " some of the wild cattle of the country 

 which had hitherto roamed at large in the Forest of 

 Needwood were driven into the park at this place, where 

 their breed is still preserved." 



We see, then, that this park contained all the wild 

 animals of importance which had formerly occupied 

 Needwood, and that its cattle retained a name having 

 especial reference to their nature and origin — wild 

 beasts. The family accounts show that they were so 

 called near 220 years since, and, though they have lost 

 much of their ancient ferocity, they are so called in the 

 neighbourhood at the present time. The following are 

 extracts from the " Account Book of the Steward of the 

 Manor of Chartley : Preses, Com : Ferrers," with which 

 I have been kindly supplied by Mr. Shirley, of Etting- 

 ton Park : — 



£ s. d. 



" 1658 — P d - a moytie of the charge of mowings, 

 makings, and carryings of hay for 

 y e wild beasts 2 7 7" 



« 1683— Feb. P d the Cooper for a paile for 



y e wild swine 2 0" 



The last item seems to show very clearly that the 

 wild boar was not extinct in England so early as has 

 been supposed : namely, previously to Charles I.'s 

 abortive attempt to re-introduce its race into the 

 New Forest. 



The number of the wild cattle is said to have not 

 generally exceeded thirty ; " yet," says Mr. Shirley, " in 

 April, 1851, there were forty-eight, and in November, 



