WILD WHITE CATTLE. 241 



was a slight increase, for in June, 1877, ^^- ^- H- 

 Cocks found two bulls, two cows, and two heifers, 

 although one of the cows unfortunately was parti- 

 coloured. 



The loss of two cows during the present owner's 

 time, and impairment of the fertility of others by 

 the foot-and-mouth disease, as well as the reten- 

 tion at one time of a single bull which proved in- 

 fertile, are the chief causes which have led to the 

 threatened extinction of the herd, added to which 

 Mr. Legh attributes its present diminished numbers 

 to long-continued in-and-in breeding from near 

 affinities. 



Although in habits the old Lyme cattle resembled 

 those at Chillingham, they were larger than any 

 breed of cattle now existing in this country — higher 

 on the leg, more upstanding, and longer in the body 

 — very large cattle, with strong bone, much substance, 

 and a large amount of flesh about the neck and dew- 

 lap. They had abundance of long rough hair, which, 

 in the males was very fully developed, curly and 

 mane-like on the head and fore- quarters, and the 

 hide was of immense thickness. They were very 

 grand and symmetrical in appearance, and their 

 movements were distinguished by a peculiar majestic 

 stateliness. Their flesh was excellent, but there does 

 not seem to have been any record kept of their 

 weights. For a great many years, indeed, none but 

 cows were ever slaughtered, and latterly not even 

 these. The colour of the ears is subject to variation, 

 and, although generally red, it is sometimes black or 



