WEST HIGHLAND CATTLE. 187 



commanded much attention. There may be various reasons for 

 this, but it occurs to us that a main cause is that the experiment 

 has hitherto been chiefly, if not exclusively, tried by southern 

 breeders crossing two-year-old heifers or aged cows with Short- 

 horn bulls, producing in either case a diminutive offspring. If 

 three-year-old heifers were brought direct from the hills and 

 crossed with a pure-bred Shorthorn, and afterwards maintained 

 on their usual " sober " fare, there is every reason to expect that 

 the result would be satisfactory ; and no cross is so likely to be 

 useful in upland districts as this, combining, as it should do,. 

 the " growthy " qualities of the Shorthorn with the hardiness of 

 the Highlander. 



This valuable breed of cattle does not receive the attention 

 which it deserves, especially at the present time, as a means of 

 utiHsing much waste pasturage and of improving the condition 

 of the smaller class of tenants or crofters. It is undoubtedly 

 the breed best adapted to the Highlands of Scotland ; but no 

 race of animals can withstand cold and hunger for many 

 generations without marked deterioration in ^ze and quality, 

 for the young of all animals require both food and warmth for 

 their due development, and there is no greater mistake than 

 that of thinking, as many do, that exposure to cold and hunger 

 tends to hardiness, which, however is truly the result of good 

 keep and comfort. If the crofters were practically taught this 

 lesson, say, by the providing for a township or commonalty of a 

 well-bred bull to be kept by a responsible member of the town- 

 ship at the common cost ; and if they were taught to provide a 

 little natural hay or meadow grass and some shelter for their 

 young cattle in winter, they would discover the advantage in 

 the enhanced value of their stock, and the discovery would lead 

 to a general adoption of the improved system. 



