WHITE WILD CATTLE. 261 



wild race. This form of preservation is best 

 illustrated by the number of deer and deer- 

 parks in Britain, though with this difference — 

 that while the deer have survived, the so- 

 called " wild " cattle have almost died out. 



It would have been easy, in the case of the 

 former, to prevent degeneracy by introducing 

 animals from the Continent ; and by the infusion 

 of new blood to keep up the stamina of the 

 indigenous stock. But no such recourse was 

 possible in the case of the wild cattle, and 

 consequently the remnant has gradually dete- 

 riorated, until now it has nearly ceased to exist. 

 Through interbreeding, those at Chillingham 

 have " a fine-drawn, almost washed-out appear- 

 ance ; " and it has now become conspicuous that 

 more males than females are born. But while 

 this unhealthy sign is to be deplored, it to some 

 extent offers a solution of the difficulty. It is 

 proposed that the bulls from the few remaining 

 herds be drafted out, and that an attempt be 

 made to build up a new one in the park of some 

 landowner who is sufficiently interested to 

 undertake the experiment. If this prove suc- 

 cessful, the result will be to preserve the type, 

 and to give it added stamina and robustness. 



