TEE GISBURKE PARK SERB. 279 



in some of their markings. A few years later, Dr. 

 Whitaker, in his "History of Craven," published in 

 1805, gives the following account of them : — 



" Grisburne Park is chiefly remarkable for a herd of 

 wild cattle, descendants of that indigenous race which 

 once peopled the great forests of Lancashire. After 

 their extinction in a wild state — which we know did not 

 take place till a short time before the age of Leland — it 

 is highly probable that the breed was kept up by the 

 Abbots of Whalley in the ' Lord's Park,' and fell into 

 the hands of the Asshetons, who acquired possession of 

 that rich domain soon after the dissolution. This species 

 differs from those of Lyme, in Cheshire, and Chillingham 

 Castle, in Northumberland — where alone in South 

 Britain they are now preserved — in being without horns. 



" They are white, save the tips of their noses, which 

 are black ; rather mischievous, especially when guarding 

 their young, and approach the object of their resentment 

 in a very insidious manner. They breed with tame 

 cattle ; but it is to be hoped that respect for so ancient 

 and singular a family will induce the noble owner to 

 preserve them from any foreign admixtures." * 



It seems desirable that we should first investigate 

 their origin. Dr. Whitaker, we see, calls them the 

 " descendants of that indigenous race which once 

 peopled the great forests of Lancashire;" and in another 

 place, before quoted, he mentions these forests as having 

 been the " last retreats " of, amongst other animals, 

 " bubali, or wild cattle " — " of which tradition records 

 that they were transplanted into the Dean's or Abbot's 

 Park at Whalley, whence they are reported, on the same 

 evidence, to have been removed after the dissolution to 



* " History of Craven," p. 37, 2nd ed. ; p. 52, 3rd ed. 



