The  Yorkshire  Farm-Prize  Competition , 1883. 
535 
were  all  destroyed  in  the  middle  of  last  century  by  a dis- 
temper.” Bewick,  writing  of  this  race  of  cattle  in  1790,  states: 
« Those  at  Burton  Constable,  in  the  county  of  York,  were  all 
destroyed  by  a distemper  a few  years  since.  They  varied 
slightly  from  those  at  Chillingham,  having  black  ears  and 
muzzles,  and  the  tips  of  their  tails  of  the  same  , colour.  They 
were  also  much  larger,  many  of  them  weighing  60  stone,  pro- 
bably owing  to  the  richness  of  the  pasturage  at  Holderness,  but 
generally  attributed  to  the  difference  of  kin  between  those  with 
black  and  with  red  ears,  the  former  of  which  they  studiously 
endeavour  to  preserve.” 
I have  several  times  visited  the  herd  of  wild  cattle  at 
Chillingham,  each  time  with  increasing  interest,  especially 
when  surrounded  by  them,  when  they  were  being  fed  out  of 
the  historic  hay-cart.  The  head  of  a wild  bull,  that  for  eleven 
years  shared  the  honours  of  this  herd,  is  now  in  my  possession, 
and  is  not  a little  prized. 
A most  interesting  account  of  Burton  Constable,  and  the 
lineage  of  the  Constable  family,  is  given  in  ‘ The  History  and 
Antiquities  of  the  Seigniory  of  Holderness,’  by  George  Poison, 
Esq.,  published  in  1841.  It  contains  the  following  description 
of  the  park: — “To  George  Clifford,  Esq.,  Burton  Constable 
owes  a considerable  portion  of  its  thriving  woods,  the  result  of 
his  unwearied  attention  to  planting  and  draining  during  the 
period  of  the  minority  of  the  present  possessor.  The  lake 
covers  sixteen  acres  of  ground.  The  circuit  of  the  park  and 
ornamental  pleasure-grounds,  about  five  miles  and  a half.  The 
lake,  or  sheet  of  water,  is  situated  a quarter  of  a mile  from  the 
mansion  ; it  extends  along  the  slope  which  forms  the  gradual 
rise  towards  Roe  Hill,  and  at  one  end  is  terminated  by  a building 
called  the  Menagerie ; the  other  termination  is  concealed  by  a 
hanging  wood,  through  which  it  has  the  appearance  of  con- 
tinuing its  course.  In  the  widest  part  is  a small  wooded  island, 
the  resort  of  swans  and  wild  fowl,  which  are  numerous,  from 
being  unmolested.  A considerable  portion  of  the  park  is 
allotted  to  fallow-deer,  of  which  there  are  generally  about 
500  head.  There  are  two  deer  paddocks  for  red-deer,  of  which 
there  are  between  eighty  and  ninety.  These  are  kept  for  the 
chase,  and  have  for  the  last  five  years  been  trained  and  hunted 
by  Sir  Clifford  Constable.  The  walled  garden,  hot-houses,  and 
conservatories,  which  occupy  about  seven  acres,  are  situated  at 
a short  distance  from  the  head  of  the  lake.  There  is  a good 
avenue  of  ancient  elms  ; and  a walk,  deeply  shaded  with  horse- 
chestnuts,  runs  parallel  with  it,  from  whence  an  excellent  view 
of  the  house  is  obtained  ; and  some  idea  of  its  extent  may  be 
formed  from  these  points.  A beautiful  garden  has  been  formed 
