144 A V I E W O F 



The failing a .better breed of fheep, hath of late' 

 years become an object of considerable attention in 

 the Highlands, and with very great fuccels in the 

 quantity and quality of the wool, as well as the 

 fize and condition of the fheep. But this agreeable 

 profpecl: is checked in the reflection, that the deep, 

 and Ibmet-imes long-continued fnows, deftroy, upon 

 an average of years, from i to 200,000 annually, be- 

 fides enfeebling, or reducing to Ikeletons, thofe which 

 furvive. Could any method be deviled for pre- 

 ferving thefe valuable animals, between the end of 

 November and the beginning of March, the High- 

 land mountains would become, in importance, 

 nearly equal to the vallies. The flieep only require 

 fhelter, and fitches, or turnips j of the latter, any 

 quantity could be raifed in the Highlands, and 

 which, at the fame time, would improve the foil. 

 The number of fheep in Scotland, is calculated at 

 3,000,000, of which one half may be raifed in the 

 Highlands and illes. 



The height of fome mountains in Tibet, a large 

 country joining the Mogul empire on the north-earl., 

 is 8000 feet above the level of the fea ; and the 

 height of the Andes in South America is 15,000 

 feet. The fheep fed on thofe mountains produce 

 wool of the fineft quality. 



The higheft mountain in the Highlands of Scot- 

 land, is only 4200 feet above the fea j and, in 

 general, the ridges of hills in that country, do not 

 exceed 2000 feet. 



The Highland mountains have alfo the advan- 

 tage of tall heath, which ferves inftead of whirls for 

 ihelter and other purpofes. Argylefhire hath of 

 late years become the greater! fheep country in the 

 Highlands -, while the northern parts are chiefly 

 occupied in railing black cattle. 



Goats are numerous in the Highlands. Alfo, 

 various fpecies of deer and game. The .earl of Fife 

 hath a park in Abcrdcenihire, of fifteen fquare 



miles, 



