[ i66 ] 



The firft of thefe kinds I fhall mentioir, as being 

 perhaps the mod nearly loft, and as carrying the 

 fineft wool that has been known in this ifland, may 

 be diftinguiflied by the name of the Highlarjd breeds 

 This breed of flieep was formerly to be met with 

 in the higher parts of Aberdeenlhire, and in all the 

 counties of Scotland to the northward of that^ but 

 now the breed is there fo much adulterated by in- 

 termixture with other forts, as to give no room to 

 hope that any of the genuine breed could be found ' 

 in thofe parts. In the Weftern iflands, though for 

 many years paft little attention has been paid to 

 fheep, the original breed has not been quite fo 

 much debafed as on the main land -, and fome of 

 them might there be picked up with care tolerably 

 good. The fame fore of flieep, I have alfo been 

 told, are found in the Orkney iflands; but it is be- 

 lieved the pureft of this breed that at prefent exifts 

 is in the Zetland ifles. This is a fmall, hardy, 

 though delicate looking animal. Its wool is re- 

 markably fine in ftaple; but its moft diftinguifliing 

 peculiarities are, a filky glofs to the eye, and a pe- 

 culiar foftnefs to the touch, that no other wool I 

 ever faw polTefTes. It is not frizzled up like Spanifli 

 wool, but in its native ftate is gently waved, and 

 is rather longer in the ftaple. When compared 

 with the beft Spaniih wool that could be bought 



in 



