36 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 
and becoming eradicated, as the others had done before them; and thus the 
succession of angular markings was formed. 
Several objections were produced to this theory, by Dr. Greville, Messrs. 
Lankester, Douglass, and others.—Mr. Gray said he brought it forward only 
as a theory to explain the fact. 
Tuesday. 
The business commenced by a paper “ On the Wild Cattle of Chillingham 
Park,” by Mr. Hindemarsii, of Alnwick. The substance of the paper consisted 
of a letter from Lord Tankerville, the proprietor of Chillingham, where the 
breed of wild cattle exists. Nothing is known of their introduction to their 
present situation, and many have supposed, from their situation, that they are 
descendants of the Wild Oxen that inhabited the Great Caledonian Forest, ex¬ 
tending from the Tweed to Glasgow, at one extremity of which district Chillingham 
is situated. There are other cattle of the kind in the country, especially at 
Plamilton, but these are not in such good condition as those at Chillingham. 
Also at Tyrne Park, Cheshire, and Chartley Park. The last most resemble 
those at Chillingham. These animals have, pre-eminently, all the characteristics 
of wild animals, with some peculiarities that are sometimes very curious and 
amusing. They hide their young, feed in the night, basking or sleeping during 
the day;—they are fierce when pressed, but, generally speaking, very timorous, 
moving off on the appearance of any one, even at a great distance. Yet this 
varies very much in different seasons of the year, and according to the manner in 
which they are approached. They are beautifully shaped, with short legs, 
straight back, horns of a very fine texture, and thin skin, so that some of the 
bulls appear of a cream colour; and they have a peculiar cry, more like that of 
a^ wild beast than that of ordinary cattle. With all the marks of high breeding, 
they have also some of its defects. They are bad breeders, and are much subject 
to th erush. There are about 80 in the herd, comprising 25 bulls, 40 cows, and 15 
steers, of various ages. The eyes, eye-lashes, and tips of the horns are black ; 
the muzzle is brown; the inside of the ears red or brown ; and all the rest of the 
animal white. Even the bulls have no manes, but a little coarse hair on their 
neck. They fight for supremacy, until a few of the most powerful subdue the 
others, and the mastery is no longer disputed. When two bulls are separated by 
accident, they fight when they meet, although friendly before, and do so till they 
become friends again. The cows commence breeding at three years old; the 
calves suckle nine months; they conceal their calves for a week or ten days after 
they are born, suckling them two or three times a day. 
They are seldom allowed to live more than eight or nine years, at which period 
“ they begin to go back.” When slaughtered, they weigh from 38 to 42 stones. 
One was caught and kept, and became as tame as the domestic Ox, thrived as 
