The New International Encyclopædia/Cattle, Chillingham

CATTLE, Chillingham. A breed of the so-called wild cattle of Great Britain (Bos taurus, var. scoticus), preserved in Chillingham Park, Northumberland, England. This park, the property of the Earl of Tookerville, is a remnant of one of the great forests of Great Britain. It was formerly believed that these cattle, other herds of which are found at Cadzon, near Chillingham, at Chartley (Staffordshire), Somerford and Lyme (Cheshire), and Kilmory (Argyllshire), were descended from the urus (q.v.) without contact with any domesticated breed, but it is now held that the remote ancestors of the existing animals must have been partially domesticated. The Chillingham cattle, which approach most nearly to the true primigenius type, number about sixty, and are described as of medium size, compact in body, and dingy-white in color, with black- tipped horns, brownish muzzle, and red ears. They are timorous, unless hard-pressed, and feed by night. The cows conceal the calves under tall ferns and undergrowth, and resist all approach to them. It is said that these cattle refuse to mingle with any other. This prevents degeneracy of breed, and the accepted characteristics are also maintained by destroying any calf that shows deviations of color. For illustration, see Plate of Wild Cattle.