T H E R E P O R T, &c. 5 



amongft the wool, which cover and fhelter it ; 

 and the wool is a fpecies of fine fur refembling 

 down, which grows in fome meafure under the 

 protection of the hair with which the animal is 

 covered. 



3. Your Committee underftand that the (heep 

 producing this fine wool are of the hardieft na- 

 ture ; are never houfed nor kept in any pard- 

 cular pafture ; and that in the winter feafon 

 they are often fo pinched for food, that many 

 of them are obliged to feed upon the fea-ware 

 driven upon the fhore. It is obferved, how- 

 ever, that the healthieft flieep are thofe which 

 live conftantly upon the hills, and never touch 

 the fea-ware. 



4. Laftly, It appears that the Shetland fheep 

 are never dipt or fliorn, but that, about the be- 

 ginning of June, the wool is pulled off (which 

 is done without the fmalleft pain or injury to 

 the animal), leaving the long hairs already 

 mentioned, which Ihelter the young wool, and 

 contribute to keep the animal warm and com- 

 fortable, at a feafon of the year when cold and 

 piercing winds may occafionally be expeded 

 in fo northern a latitude *. 



Your Committee have the fatisfadion of add- 

 in?, 



* It is fald that ihefe long baits come off later in the feafon, 

 towards the end of September. 



