No. 7. 



The West Highland Cow. 



217 



THE WEST HIGHLAND COW. 



In our number for October, we gave the portrait of the Kyloe, or West Highland Bull; 

 the above is a very correct likeness of the cow of that most valuable and highly esteemed 

 breed of cattle, which inhabit those mountainous and other exposed pastures of Scotland, 

 on which, almost all other races would perish. Although these cattle are known as 

 " Black cattle," many of them are of various colours, one of the most favourite, being the 

 whitish dun, equally hardy with the perfect black, and considered preferable for her milk- 

 ing properties; often, too, she is found handsomer, and exhibiting more desirable qualities 

 for the grazier, being what is called a " kind handler." The breed is small, but well pro- 

 portioned; and on those farms which are let on leases, they are carefully tended and better 

 fed ; when they attain a much larger size. Here, the cows are sent, during the summer, 

 to the glens and moors, which are covered with hard grasses and rushes; because that 

 portion of the farm which yields the softer and sweeter grasses, is not sufficient for their 

 consumption during the whole year. They are attended by a woman from each family, 

 who has a small hut tor her habitation, and who makes the butter and cheese which their 

 milk affords. The cows are thus kept in comparatively good pasture, during the summer 

 and autumn, while the young beasts are sent to the moors; and towards the winter, all 

 the cattle are brought to the lower grounds, and the steers are separated and housed at 

 night, being fed on a small quantity of hay and straw, portions of which are distributed 

 to the other cattle during snow. 



The cattle of the small tenants are all housed at night, during the winter, and fed on 

 straw, coarse hay, and the refuse of the family meals. The habitations of these people 

 are usually divided into three apartments; the first, which occupies half the hut, is the 

 general entrance, and contains the agricultural implements, poultry and cattle. The 

 second, comprising a fourth of the hut, is that in which the family reside; and the inner 

 one, of the same size, is the sleeping room and granary. There are no chimneys; the 

 smoke fills the whole hut, and escapes partly by a hole in the roof, partly by the door, and 

 partly by orifices formed between the wall and roof, as substitutes for windows, and which, 

 in stormy weather, are closed by a bundle of straw. The fire is placed on the middle of 

 the floor; the soot accumulates on the roof, and in rainy weather is continually dropping; 

 and for the purpose of obtaining it for manure, the hut is unroofed in the beginning of 

 May! The dung of the cattle, which had been accumulating during the winter and 

 spring, and had been mixed with straw, ashes and other matter, is at the same time re- 

 moved from the outer apartment. In the spring these cattle are in the most wretched 

 plight, when sea-weed boiled with husks of grain and a little meal, are then employed to 

 support them; while in many places, the cattle, during the winter and spring, betake 

 themselves to the sea-shore to feed upon the fuci, thrown up by the receding waves. The 

 milk of these cows is said to be excellent, but on account of the filthy habits of these 

 cotters, the butter and cheese are eaten by few besides the natives. 



