English White Cattle. 
135 
oxen. This wood was once full of them, hut now they are all slaine, 
except in that parte which is called Cummirland. This beast is so 
hatefull and fearful of mankind that it will not feede of that grasse or 
those hearbes, whereof he savoureth a man hath touched, no not for 
many daies togither. And if by art or pollicy they happen to be 
taken alive, they will die with very sullen griefe. If they meete a 
man presently they make force at him, fearing neither dogs, speares, 
nor other Weapons. Their flesh is very pleasant, though full of 
sinewes, and very acceptable to the greatest nobles, for which cause 
they are now growen to a small number. Their qualities being like to 
the former beast [bison] except their colour and beard, I will tearme 
them the white Caledonian, or Scotian bison.” 
Mr. John Storer has lately published a work, The 
Wild White Cattle of Great Britain , wherein he traces 
the history of this beautiful breed, and gives an account 
of the few herds which have been preserved to our own 
day. Many noblemen have attempted to restore the 
white cattle on account of their beauty, but their ferocity, 
which remains undiminished, renders them dangerous 
inmates of a park. 
We find but little notice in the writings of the 
Elizabethan period of the various breeds of domestic 
animals. Thomas Fuller writes of the long-horned 
variety of Lancashire cattle:— 
“The fairest in England are bred (or if you will made) in this 
county, with goodly heads, the tips of whose horns are sometimes dis¬ 
tanced five feet asunder. Horns are a commodity not to be slighted, 
seeing I cannot call to mind any other substance so hard, that it will 
not break; so solid, that it will hold liquor within it; and yet so clear, 
that light will pass through it. No mechanick trade, but hath some 
utensils made thereof: and even now I recruit my pen with ink from 
a vessel of the same. Yea, it is useful cap-a-pie, from combs to 
shooeing-horns. What shall I say, of the many gardens made of 
horns, to garnish houses? I mean, artificiall flowers of all colours, 
and, besides what is spent in England, many thousand weight are 
shaven down into leaves for lanthorns and sent over daily into France. 
In a word, the very shavings of horn are profitable, sold by the sack, 
and sent many miles from London for the manuring of ground. No 
wonder then that the homers are an ancient corporation, though why 
