WEST HIGHLAND CATTLE. 183 



of long standing and of high repute, and the present owner has 

 introduced new blood from the best inland herds, which will 

 improve the stock in size. The Earl of Dunmore has within the 

 last twelve or fifteen years established a large and select fold of 

 Highland cattle at Eodil in Harris, and the sales of drafts from 

 this fold at Inverness within the last few years worthily 

 attracted the attention of breeders. His lordship's well-known 

 energy and attention to pure and judicious breeding will make 

 this very soon one of the leading herds in Scotland. 



The late Dr. MacGrillivray, in Barra, had a large and well- 

 managed herd of Highlanders, which is still kept on. In the 

 islands of Mull, Jura, and Islay there are fine herds of Highland 

 cattle, Islay especially being noted for its rich and fattening 

 pastures ; and in Morven there are also some good herds. 



At Ardfinaig and at Kilfinichen, in Mull, there were excellent 

 herds, which have been dispersed, but they were chiefly bought 

 by local breeders, who have at the same time been importing 

 cattle from the best mainland herds. On the mainland of 

 Argyll the famed herd of Poltalloch maintains a foremost place 

 among the herds of Scotland. This stock has been carefully 

 managed and improved by judicious selections from the best 

 inland herds, the last noted purchase having been the champion 

 prize bull of the Centenary Show of the Highland Society, 

 Calum Eiabhach, bred by the Duke of Athole. Indeed, 

 throughout the higher grounds of Argyll, the class of cattle 

 which is seen on almost every farm is superior, and there is no 

 better place for getting good Highland heifers than the June 

 fair at Dumbarton, which is still a good market for Argyllshire 

 Highlanders. Doune fair, in November, used to be the best 

 market for Highland stots or bullocks ; but this fair, like others, 

 is falling off. On the mainland of Inverness-shire Highland 

 cattle are not so much bred as they are in Argyll, probably 

 because the climate and pasture are not so well adapted to 

 cattle as to sheep, and although the pastures on many farms 

 would rear fine cattle, they are generally reserved for winter 

 feeding for sheep. 



In the valley of the Spey, however, from Cluny Castle to 

 Grantown, Highland cattle of a very good kind are largely 

 reared; but of late the black-polled have been freely intro- 



