2G2 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



In appearance the Wild White Cattle are 

 now somewhat smaller than domestic breeds, the 

 former having decreased in almost exact ratio 

 to the increase of the latter. They are covered 

 with long, shaggy hair, and have the hoofs, 

 muzzles, and ears black. In certain herds, 

 however (notably that at Chillingham), it has 

 been noticed that the extremities are red — 

 probably another sign of degeneracy. That at 

 Burton Constable, in Yorkshire, showed this 

 characteristic, though a studious endeavour was 

 made to preserve the black points. The cattle 

 here were somewhat larger than the more 

 known ones at Chillingham ; and, probably, 

 owing to the richness of their Holderness pas- 

 turage, sometimes attained to sixty stones in 

 weight. A local characteristic also attached to 

 another Yorkshire herd, that at Gisbourne 

 Park. These were white, except the ears and 

 muzzles, which were brown or red. They 

 were without horns, strong-boned, and of low 

 stature. 



A legend attached to this herd, that it had 

 originally been drawn from Whalley Abbey 

 by the power of music, much in the same 

 way that a number of Red Deer are said 



