184 THE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



duced, and they should well suit the climate and pastures 

 of lower Badenoch and of Strathspey. At Castle Grant the 

 Earl of Seafield, a good many years ago, established a herd 

 of Highland cattle, which is still maintained in high efficiency 

 under the rule of the Countess of Seafield. In the county 

 of Perth Highland cattle have very much decreased in numbers 

 within the last forty or fifty years; but there is now a 

 reactionary tendency, and they are again receiving deserved 

 attention in the upper glens of Athole, Breadalbane, and 

 Balquhidder. Before the period just named there were 

 numerous remarkably fine herds in the districts of G-lenlyon, 

 Eannoch, Breadalbane, Callander, and Balquhidder, and the 

 names of Messrs Donald, John and Charles Stewart, G-lenlyon ; 

 McLarens, Braes of Eannoch; M'Laren, Callander; M'Donald, 

 Monachyle, and others, were familiar over the Highlands as 

 famed breeders ; but at that time the means of communication 

 were limited, and animals of rare excellence were as a i-ule 

 known only to a local few, and therefore they were but seldom 

 removed to distant folds for change of breed, as is now so 

 easily and so frequently done. Notwithstanding, a bull was 

 bought from a Eannoch herd for 120Z. nearly fifty years ago 

 by Mr. Macneill, of Colonsay, and the result was visible in 

 an excellent herd sold a few years ago after the death of the 

 late Lord Colonsay. From the best of these Perthshire herds 

 was selected with great care and judgment the nucleus of the 

 famous stock owned by the second Marquis of Breadalbane, 

 which, at the time of his death in 1862, was probably the 

 finest in Scotland. For many years Lord Breadalbane took a 

 personal interest in his Highland cattle, and in both their 

 selection and management he had the assistance of his friend 

 and neighbour, the late Mr. Stewart Menzies, of Chesthill, than 

 whom there was not perhaps in Scotland a sounder judge of 

 Highland cattle. The Breadalbane stock was carefully drafted 

 every year, and the annual sales in October afforded for many 

 years an excellent opportunity to farmers and other breeders of 

 improving their stocks by purchases of pure blood. When the 

 Breadalbane herd was sold in 1863 the principal purchaser 

 was the late Duke of Athole, who then established at Blair 

 Athole a fold which has since well maintained the character 



