346 WILT) WHITE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



James Murray, created in 1821 Lord Grlenlyon, who, 

 about that time, had the management of the estates, 

 and whose son became sixth Duke of Athole, and was 

 father of the present duke. These cattle were kept 

 in one of the parks at Blair Athole, and are known 

 as the Athole Herd. From the testimony of numerous 

 persons of the highest character who knew them, I 

 entertain no doubt that they were genuine wild cattle ; 

 they were " white with black points," having the ears, 

 the muzzles, the orbits of the eyes, and the hoofs in a 

 great measure black ; and they bred perfectly true. 

 Owing to family circumstances, the Athole herd was 

 sold in the year 1834. Mr. Butter, of Faskally, who is 

 still living and informs me that such was the case, 

 bought the greater part of them, which were divided 

 between the present Duke of Buccleuch and the late 

 Marquis of Breadalbane. The portion allotted to the 

 Marquis went to Tay mouth, but they have not been 

 continued, as when there they ceased to breed together, 

 though the cows bred with other bulls, and vice versa ; 

 but several cattle shown by Lord Breadalbane at one of 

 the Highland Society's shows were entered as High- 

 land cattle (without a white one amongst them), and 

 were bred from this Athole 'stock on one side. The 

 circumstances prove that in-and-in breeding had been 

 carried too far; and though Lord Breadalbane tried at 

 last, as we shall subsequently see, to remedy the evil, 

 the attempt came too late. 



The other portion of the Athole herd, purchased by 

 Mr. Butter, of Faskally, became the property of the 

 Duke of Buccleuch, and was sent to Dalkeith. For 

 the first two years they were tended by Mr. James 

 Aitchison, a most respectable and intelligent man, 



