and Chartley.* Since that date the herds at Wollaton and Gis- burne have died out, and the breed having been introduced (subsequently, it is presumed, to Bewick's notice) or re-introduced at Cadzow (Hamilton), in Lanarkshire, the ancient seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, there now survive at the present time four herds only, of which the following account is given from recent inspection by Mr. A. H. Cocks. Of these the Chillingham breed, belonging to the Earl of Tankerville, are said to be the purest. They are characterised especially by the form of their horns, which may be described as curving first backward and upward, and then sweeping forward and downward, while the points turn upward. In the skull the forehead is flat or slightly concave, and the occipital ridge between the horns is straight and level. In form these cattle are beautifully shaped, with small heads, straight backs, and short legs. Their colour is white, except the ears and muzzle, which are either red or black, according to the breed. The horns are white, with black tips.t
In October, 1872, at the invitation of the Earl of Tankerville, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales paid a visit to Chillingham. During this visit an inspection of the wild cattle was made, and the finest bull in the herd was ridden out and shot with a rifle by his Royal Highness. The head of this animal was preserved entire. A figure of it, with a description, and some account of the herd by Mr. Tegetmeier, appeared in ' The Field' of November 30th, 1872. At that date there was said to be 1500 acres of wood in the park, aud the herd numbered between sixty and seventy head. The late Edward Blyth, one of the ablest of modern zoologists, saw this head after it had been preserved, and thus wrote of it : — " I was surprised at its small size, and also at its identity in every essential particular with the Highland ' Runt,' which I was not prepared to expect from the published descriptions. That it is a form of typical or unimproved Bos taurus, unmodified by the modern
Bewick, 'General History of Quadrupeds,' 3rd ed., 1792, p. 35.
+ Bell, 'British Quadrupeds,' 2nd ed., p. 372.
% Perhaps the best account which has been given of the Chillingham cattle is that published in vol. ii. of the 'Annals of Natural History,' by Mr. J. Hindmarsh, who derived much of his information from the Earl of Tankerville himself. Those who wish to pursue the subject further may consult 'The Agricultural Survey of Northumberland,' 3rd ed., p. 141 ; 'Proc. Brit. Assoc, at Newcastle-on-Tyne,' 1838 ; Youatt's 'Complete Grazier,' 11th ed., 1864, pp. 2, 3; and Darwin's 'Animals and Plants under Domestication;' in addition to the works already quoted.
