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CHAPTER XXIV. 



WHITE WILD CATTLE. 



The only remaining herds of Wild White Cattle 

 at present existing in Britain are those at 

 Chartley,Chillingham, Cadzow, Somerford, Bick- 

 ling, and Yiangoe. 



These constitute the last links of a once 

 gigantic fauna, and probably owe their survival 

 to the fact of their having been enclosed in 

 parks and chases. These wild cattle are prob- 

 ably descended from the gigantic Urus— a 

 huge bos, which once roamed through British 

 forests and existed down to historic time. But, 

 from whatever source descended, they abounded 

 in the twelfth century in great numbers, 

 occupying the forests which came close up to 

 the gates of London. They were con tempo- 



