THE HORSE IN SCOTLAND 



75 



(Fig. 1 6). They bear a coat of thick rough hair, are of small 

 size, only 50 to 54 inches (12-2 to 13-2 hands) high at the 

 shoulder, and in the old, almost extinct race of Barra, have 

 fine limbs, and rather large heads with straight profile and flat 

 nose. In this Hebridean race Professor Ewart considers 

 that we have "a remnant of a very old and once widely 

 distributed variety, the origin of which is never likely to be 

 revealed." 



Fig. 16. Hebridean pony Uist race a primitive breed approaching 

 extinction. ^ nat. size. 



Yet the Hebridean race, primitive as are many of its 

 features, has not escaped the later influence of man, for 

 Mr J. H. Munro Mackenzie, a close student of Highland 

 ponies, considers that some of its members on Mull, Tiree, 

 Skye and Uist, and parts of the western mainland, 



show a very strong cross of Arab blood, which is believed to have come by 

 Spanish Armada horses, or Arab chargers brought home by Highland 

 officers. The ponies have beautiful heads and good shoulders : are good 

 all over; famous for staying through long journeys under heavy weights 

 and on poor keep. 



Individuals of dun or grey colour generally show most 



