252 WILD WHITE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



careful not to run the risk of coming across them. The 

 cows were very good milkers, and, like the wild cows 

 mentioned by Sir William Brereton in the Bishop of 

 Durham's park, made their calves " wonderous fatt." 

 Like the Chillinghams, too, they frequented the highest 

 ranges of the park in fine weather, while in rain or 

 storm, or when these threatened, they habitually kept in 

 the valleys and lower grounds. So invariably was this 

 the case, that the neighbouring farmers considered them 

 an infallible barometer, and when about to mow, make, 

 or carry hay, never commenced operations till they had 

 ascertained in what part of the park the wild cattle 

 were. 



They were, I believe, larger than any breed of wild 

 cattle now existing in this country. The Chartley bull, 

 though an average specimen of that herd, is said by all 

 who knew them to be much inferior in size ; they were 

 higher on the leg, more up-standing, and longer in the 

 body— very large cattle, with strong bone, much substance, 

 and a large amount of flesh about the neck and dewlap. 

 They had abundance of long, rough hair, which, in the 

 males, was very fully developed, curly, and mane-like on 

 the head and fore quarters ; and the hide was of immense 

 thickness. They were very grand and symmetrical in 

 appearance, and their movements were distinguished by 

 a peculiar majestic stateliness. Their flesh was excellent; 

 but there does not seem to have been any record kept of 

 their weights. For a great many years, indeed, none 

 but cows were ever slaughtered, and latterly not even 

 these. 



Whether the wild cattle at Burton Constable and 

 Wollaton, which appear to have been larger than most 

 others, were as large as these, I have not been able to 



