152 ON THC WEST HIGHLAND BREED OF CATTLE. 



have from time to time been prize-takers at the Islay, Jura, and 

 Colonsay Agricultural Society's exhibitions, and many others not 

 included in this category are undoubtedly animals of merit. The 

 stock here are by no means pampered. Indeed their lines are 

 not cast in pleasant places. The heifers for breeding are turned 

 upon the bleak moors, and produce the first crop of calves when 

 they are about four years old. In-breeding is loudly deprecated, 

 and the strain is from time to time renovated with fresh blood 

 through sires from other noted herds. In the younger animals, 

 there are some perfect beauties, both in style and coat, the latter 

 beiniT of the finest texture. 



o 



Mr Webster of Daill has a herd consisting of between 40 and 

 50 cows. The young cattle are fed upon the hills or moors, and 

 when they attain a riper age, they are brought down to the richer 

 pastures Ijelow. Here they thrive rapidly, and prove, by their 

 marked progress, the capabilities of the breed. A few years ago 

 Mr Webster used a yellow bull from the Jura herd, and it was 

 curious to observe how he impressed his likeness upon the calves. 

 Although bred chiefly from black cows, they were mostly of a 

 yellow or yellow-dun colour, showing but little variation from 

 that of their sire. This says much for the influence of the bull 

 upon the progeny. 



The Jura herd has been mentioned in connection with Mr 

 Webster's stock. It is owned by ]\Ir Campbell of Jura House, 

 and the strain is held in great repute by West Highland breeders. 

 High, if not fashionable prices, are paid both for sires and heifers 

 for breeding purposes, the fame of the herd having gone abroad 

 long ago. The pastures in Jura seem well adapted to the High- 

 lander. The hills are covered with luxuriant heather, and the 

 red deer and black cock share with the cattle the range of these 

 open pastures. Here and there are well-wooded declivities and 

 ravines overrun with bushwood, where the cattle can shelter 

 during the occurrence of the western gales. 



In the island of Colonsay, until a few years ago, a splendid 

 herd of West Highlanders existed ; but this has been dispersed. 

 Several accounts of it have been published, giving interesting 

 details of the superiority of the stock. Upwards of 40 years 

 ago a bull was purchased from a fold of note in Eannoch, 

 Perthshire, at the then liigh price of 120 guineas, which did 

 much service in improving the existing strain. This herd was 

 the property of Lord Colonsay, who evinced a deep interest in 

 the breeding and management of his stock. 



Mr John Stewart of Duntulm, in the Isle of Skye, owns a fold 

 consisting of about 100 head, which are indeed diflicult to rival. 

 Most of the cattle are true types of the West Highlander, and 

 seldom fail to come off in flying colours when entered for 

 competition at the Highland Society's shows. Although well 



