52 
close to it. A separation to a very short distance, however, arouses 
their suspicions at once, and is exceedingly dangerous from their 
extreme ferocity when irritated. 
Arriving at Chillingham about three p.m., I spent some little time 
in conversation with the keeper, Mr. Michie, a fine old Highlander 
who has had charge of the cattle for many years, and to whose 
keen intelligence and shrewd good sense I am indebted for much 
information (and to his dry humour for much amusement), and at 
about four p.m. we joined my friend and the agent, and walked across 
that part of the park which lies close to the castle, and joined the 
cart which had gone round by an easier road, and which Avas loaded 
Avdth large sacks full of fodder. 
On surmounting a small eminence, we presently came in sight 
of the herd in a sheltered spot formed by an angle of the fence of 
one of the Avooded enclosures. The majority were lying doAvn and 
all evidently Avaiting the arrival of their food. A little to the left 
was a semicircle, some hundreds of yards in extent, of large wooden 
troughs for the reception of the fodder. As we approached, the 
nearest beasts showed by their Avild staring that our presence was 
regarded with uneasiness, and the attendants advised a closer 
approach to the cart to divert their dangerous attentions, and as by 
this time we had reached one end of the semicircle of troughs, the 
men at once commenced to shake the fodder from the sacks into 
the troughs, while the keeper, as each Avas filled, shovelled a small 
quantity of meal from another sack over the cut hay. The herd 
Avere instantly upon their feet, and as soon as Ave moved forward to 
the next troughs the more confident animals commenced upon 
those already filled, licking up the meal Avith especial eagerness, 
Avhile the rest croAvded behind and moved around us, so that at one 
moment we Avere actually surrounded by them at the distance of a 
feAV yards. As the cart moved on they fell behind and very soon 
all Avere engaged eating the hay and searching out the meal. The 
more venturesome beasts followed the cart quite closely, particu- 
larly two full-grown steers, and some young heifers and calves, and 
one rather lean-looking calf of about six months old, Avas always 
the first to taste of the trough just filled, being stimulated thereto 
partly by his own fearless disposition, and partly by the gentle 
hints administered by his older and more powerful companions 
which pressed behind. Once he came Avithin reach and 1 attempted 
