THE WEST HIGHLAND BREED. 301 



production of the grasses and other herbaceous plants is more 

 abundant, the size of the animals becomes in a corresponding 

 degree enlarged. In like manner, towards the eastern coast, 

 where the mountains pass into the lower country, the cattle 

 gradually assume a character approaching that of the larger 

 breeds. 



All analogy leads us to infer, that the Mountain Breeds of 

 Scotland are identical with those which formerly inhabited 

 the woods of that country, which, we have seen, were the 

 ancient Uri. and which we may term the White Forest Breed. 

 The physical circumstances of Scotland, however, have vastly 

 changed even within the historical era. Like Norway and 

 other countries of the north of Europe, it was once covered 

 with great forests, nearly all of which have disappeared, 

 leaving the country destitute of shelter, and covered with 

 heaths and the plants peculiar to peat. Under such circum- 

 stances, we must expect a corresponding distinction between 

 the ancient cattle of the forests, and those which have for 

 ages inhabited, in a state of semi-domestication, the bleak 

 mountains of the country. The main difference consists in 

 habits, the one class natural to a state of liberty, and the 

 other of dependence ; yet this difference disappears when the 

 animals are placed under similar circumstances. The Wild 

 Breed becomes domesticated with the utmost facility ; and 

 the tame breed, if left in a state of entire liberty, assumes 

 the more striking habits of the wild, the shyness, the swift- 

 ness, the concealment by the mothers of their young, and the 

 like. In some of the few remaining pine forests of the north 

 of Scotland, cows which are left to stray become as wild as 

 deer, and are shot in the same manner. The white colour of 

 the Urus in many cases returns, so that we have almost a 

 complete restoration of the ancient characters of the race. 

 Individual cattle are sometimes met with amongst the droves 

 of the Northern Highlands, resembling, even to the marking 

 of the ears, the White Forest Breed of the parks. 



The finest of the native cattle of the Highlands are bred 



