358 WILD WHITE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



causes these differences of colour arose : whether from 

 reversion to an original type, without, or in consequence 

 of, a cross ; from the natural tendency to variation, 

 increased perhaps in some cases by semi-domestication 

 and confinement ; or from any other causes. Darwin, 

 speaking of these differences in the park cattle, says : — 

 " They show that animals nearly in a state of nature 

 and exposed to nearly uniform conditions, if not allowed 

 to roam freely and to cross with other herds, do not 

 keep as uniform as truly wild animals." * And this is 

 certain, that at Chillingham calves have been produced 

 with black instead of red ears, and, which is of more 

 importance, " with brown and blue spots upon the 

 cheeks or necks ; " at Chartley they have, at no long 

 intervals, been occasionally born wholly or partially 

 black ; and at Hamilton they sometimes come entirely 

 black, or black and white, and even entirely white. 

 The occasional occurrence of calves of unusual colours 

 in herds which are now extinct it is impossible ade- 

 quately to trace, but we know that those at Gisburne 

 and Burton Constable agreed with existing ones in 

 sometimes producing calves with muzzles and ears 

 differing in colour from their congeners. 



What is still more important, the wild herds of 

 cattle, though agreeing so closely, yet differed somewhat 

 in structure as well as appearance. Having regard to 

 all these differences, I strongly incline to class them as 

 two pretty distinct varieties, broken into other sub- 

 varieties, as follows f : — 



* Darwin: "Animals and Plants," vol. i., chap, iii., p. 84. 



f All of the herds are not included in this classification ; at the time it 

 was written the author did not possess information which he received 

 subsequently respecting some herds. It is also doubtful whether at this 

 time he was aware that the Hamilton herd is now horned. — Ed. 



