6 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



and in some cases four are found in the rams of this cross. 

 I saw in Mid Yell two rams with four horns, both out of 

 a grey hornless ewe by a Black-faced tup which had again 

 produced a four-horned ram lamb in 191 1. I also saw in 

 Mr Haldane's house at Lochend, and at Mr Anderson's of 

 Hillswick, stuffed heads with four horns, very similar to the 

 one I found in Mid Yell. 



It seems to me that if some of the landed proprietors in 

 Shetland would give only half the care and attention to 

 the improvement of the native sheep that they have given 

 to Shetland ponies, they might produce a very superior 

 animal to what now exists ; for I was told by more than one 

 sheep-owner, that when properly managed the Shetland 

 breed would pay well, as the lambs can be wintered at home 

 with a very little help in winter, which is not generally the 

 case with Black-faced and Cheviot lambs. 



Orkney Sheep. 



Sheep never seem to have been as important here as in 

 Shetland, and I can find little about them in early accounts 

 of the islands. 



Low, in Faima Orcadensis, p. 7, speaks of them as 

 follows : " About midsummer there is a particular day 

 published for rowing, when all the men in the parish, 

 attended by their dogs, turn out and drive the whole flock, 

 without any preparation of washing, into narrow pens, where 

 the wool is torn off their backs, an operation which brings 

 the whole blood to their skin, and is not only disgusting, but, 

 if the season proves harsh, is the cause of great destruction. 

 But however cruel this may seem, it is almost the only notice 

 that is taken of these useful animals until the next crop of 

 wool is ready to be plucked." 



Probably Low was misinformed about this, for the wool 

 can not, in Shetland at least, all be plucked at the same time, 

 and by midsummer most of it would be already shed or ready 

 to part easily. He goes on to say that the mutton is here in 

 general but ordinary, owing to the sheep feeding much on 

 seaware, to procure which these sheep show a wonderful 

 sagacity, for no sooner has the ebb-tide begun to run, than 



