DESCRIPTION OF THE HERD. 309 



It is necessary to keep this rinderpest slaughter in mind, 

 because it is through this mishap that the herd wears 

 the appearance it now does. Not more than three or 

 four, and these principally calves, seem to have survived. 

 The number required for the dairy was made up sub- 

 sequently by re-purchasing cows which had been sold or 

 given away in the neighbourhood ; the principal contri- 

 bution having been three or four females, of all ages, 

 from Mr. Cator's kindred herd at Woodbastwick Hall : 

 of which more hereafter. Groing among the older cattle, 

 I found twelve cows and the bull grazing apart from the 

 maiden heifers, and two steers. At first sight they 

 seemed alike. The cows are swan-white, without a 

 yellow tinge, and, even in dreary November, looked 

 as clean in their coats as if in May. When seen closely, 

 two or three variations from the original type re- 

 vealed themselves ; there have evidently been, in some 

 of them, crosses with the local polled breed ; and also (in 

 the case of the Woodbastwick cows) with a Short-horn 

 sire. Perhaps the presence of these undoubtedly cross- 

 bred animals makes the peculiarities of those which 

 descend from the surviving females of the original sort 

 more conspicuous. These peculiarities were a singularly 

 wide loin and long hind quarter for cattle of their size : 

 the cows not being now above the average of the Grallo- 

 ways, and below that of the Aberdeens : yet they are 

 longer in their frames than either, and upon as short a 

 leg. They have very neatly laid shoulders, and, in the 

 case of the Woodbastwick cow and the bull, very deep 

 fore quarters. The head is not Grallowaj^-shaped, but 

 longer ; nor are the ears so much feathered. The skin 

 of those cows which allowed me to touch them was 

 good, so far as suppleness is concerned. 



