308 WILD WHITE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



have much to repay a visitor; but it can never have 

 recalled the traditions involved in its history better 

 than when seen, in late autumn, roaming among the 

 deer under the noble trees which surround the lake in 

 the park of the Marchioness of Lothian. It is a cir- 

 cumstance to be deplored that the death, a few years 

 since, of the bailiff who had been charged with the care 

 of the herd for a long period, should have put an end to 

 any hope of obtaining much local information respecting 

 it. The estate agent, Mr. Wells, the dairy manager, 

 and the herdsman, were very kind in rendering assist- 

 ance ; but none of them had held their posts very long ; 

 my chief object, therefore, must be to report what I 

 saw on November 10th, 1875. 



" There are now at Blickling thirteen full-grown 

 cows and one bull, six maiden heifers, two yearling 

 steers, and one heifer-calf. The weanlings of 1874 

 and early in 1875 seem to have been mostly got rid of, 

 either because their markings were not true or because 

 they were principally males. No cattle are ever fatted ; 

 the cows do not suckle their calves, but are milked for the 

 use of the family. They live as their comrades, the fal- 

 low deer, live ; and are as free and as picturesque as they. 



" The herd has not been breeding well recently, and 

 the sire in use is not a success. The last bull seems to 

 have been far more impressive ; but he became dan- 

 gerous, and had to be slaughtered in 1874. Not many 

 of the cows have the appearance of being extraordinary 

 milkers ; but it is right to add that the manager of the 

 dairy says that previously to the destruction of the 

 greater part of the herd by the cattle-plague the cows 

 were not merely much finer animals, but also yielded 

 cream far superior to any which has been obtained since. 



