SOLE HOPE OF AVERTING EXTINCTION. 367 



have already seen the effects of this short-sighted 

 policy in the loss of so many of onr herds of park cattle 

 within really a short period ; and I confess that I do 

 not see any very brilliant prospects for those which 

 remain, unless a different course is soon pursued. The 

 number of wild females — cows and heifers — which are 

 still in existence, is scarcely more than seventy in all 

 the three herds put together, and hitherto prejudice has 

 prevented any one of these herds being of any use to 

 either of the others. They are quite reduced to three 

 distinct families, and each family a small one. Exces- 

 sive rarity has been aimed at, and obtained ; and that is 

 the very worst quality that can be imposed on any 

 family of cattle, whether wild or of a fashionable do- 

 mestic sort : for it is produced by infertility, and the 

 end is to deteriorate and breed out the race. 



