The Scottish Naturalist 



No. 2] 1912 [February 



NOTES ON THE PRIMITIVE BREEDS 

 SHEEP IN SCOTLAND. 



By H. J. Elwes, F.R.S. 



Plates I. -III. 

 (Co?itinucd from page 7.) 



Soay Sheep. 



MlLLAlS, in his work on the Mammals of Great Britain, 

 points out that the sheep on the small island of Soay, near 

 St Kilda, are quite distinct from " four-horned " Hebridean 

 sheep. As Millais says, Soay sheep have all the habits 

 and appearance of a wild sheep, and when galloping look 

 much like Moufflon. Their short tails, hairy throat and 

 mane, and general markings all suggest Moufflon parentage. 

 Sir Claude Alexander has proved that they breed freely with 

 both Moufflon and with the wild Urial (Ovis vignei) of the 

 Punjaub, and my short experience of them convinces me 

 that they retain more of the habits of a wild animal than any 

 other breed I have kept. 



When we consider their habitat this is not surprising, for 

 all they know of man is that once or twice a year at most 

 they are hunted down with dogs, and the little wool they 

 have is pulled from their backs. For the rest of the year 

 they are as wild as the sea-birds which constantly surround 

 them. Of the origin and early history of these sheep we 

 know nothing. 



2 D 



