THE WEST HIGHLANDERS. 



51 



along the whole of the eastern part of England. The West Highland 

 cattle are universally adopted for grazing farms, and the Ayrshire 

 nearly as generally for the dairy. Some Galloways are found in 

 Argyle, and particularly in the southern part of the county : but 

 they are not equal to the native Highlanders. 



THE SHETLAND ISLANDS. 



SHETLAND BULL, OR WEST HIGHLANDER OF THE SHETLAND ISLES. 



The Shetland islands present a wonderful scene of rugged, black, 

 and barren rocks. No tree or shrub relieves these dreary scenes, 

 and only gray rocks appear rising from the marshes, and pools, and 

 shores, bounded by the wildest precipices. There are few or no arti- 

 ficial grasses, or green crops, or enclosures protecting these cr-ops, 

 and grasses could not be brought to perfection in these islands : there 

 is nothing but moss, heath, and sea-weed ; yet there is a breed of 

 horses, diminutive, but beautiful, hardy, and strong ; and the cattle 

 are of the same origin with the West Highlanders. They have been 

 diminished in size by the coldness of the climate and the scarcity of 

 food ; but they have not been so seriously injured by the folly of 

 men — they have not been domesticated to be starved outright. They 

 are small, gaunt, ill-shaped, so far, indeed, as their shape can be 

 ascertained through the long, thick hair with which they are covered, 

 and which forms an impenetrable defence against the snow and the 



