224 WILD WHITE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



scarcely be called a road — skirted the boundary of the 

 park, having a yard and a paddock or two on the left 

 hand — the park itself being on our right and in front 

 of us — while a large piece of water in a valley slightly 

 beneath us, to which the cattle were coming down to 

 drink, was a few hundred yards distant to the right. 

 The herd was behind a knoll immediately in front. Just 

 then, alone, came from the other cattle a mighty bull to 

 drink. He passed down the valley within seventy or 

 eighty yards of us, with a stately, majestic walk, his 

 action being very grand. He took of us not the 

 slightest notice ; but he bellowed loudly as he went, 

 for he had been confined in one of the paddocks near, 

 and had that day broken out and attacked his rival. 

 He was now, the keeper told us, retreating from the 

 fight discomfited, and would probably sulk apart from 

 the herd for two or three days, and then renew the 

 battle. How vividly was I reminded of Virgil's exact 

 and beautiful description of a similar incident in his 

 Third Georgic. 



We went on towards the knoll, and two cows ap- 

 peared in advance of the rest of the herd. They saw 

 us, and crossed to the right, in the direction of a low 

 hill some few hundred yards distant ; but we had a 

 good view of them as they did so at, perhaps, eighty 

 or a hundred yards distance ; the rest of the herd, which 

 were further off, followed them. We drew quietly after 

 them, and had a splendid view of the herd grouped en 

 masse on the summit of the hill, for they allowed us to 

 get very near them ; and a grand sight it was. Just, 

 however, at that moment the thunder-storm, which had 

 long been threatening, broke upon us, and we were 

 soon obliged unwillingly to retire. 



