APPENDIX, No. IV, 57 



elaillc, to a greater degree than that reared in climates of 

 9.n oppofite quality. 



Thefe obfervations apply nearly as vecll to the weft 

 coafts of Scotland as to the ifiands. In one other refpeft 

 does the weft coaft of Scotland polfefs a peculiarity of cli- 

 mate highly favourable to the rearing of fiieep, that has 

 cither not been hitherto adverted to at all, or, if it has 

 been taken notice of, it has been rather confidered as un- 

 favourable than otherwife. Thefe countries, when com- 

 pared with thofe on the eaft coaft, are in general thought 

 to have a much more rainy climate. The fact, however, 

 is, that the quantity of rain which falls upon the eaft 

 coaft, is nearly the fame with that which falls upon the 

 weft coaft, throughout the whole year ; but the rain falls 

 out at dilFerent feafons of the year in thefe tv/o places. 

 On the eaft coaft, the rain falls chiefly during the winter 

 and fpring months, in heavy dalhes ; and on the weft, 

 coafts, the rain is more abundant during the fummer, and 

 in autumn ; and it then falls in frequent gentle ftiowers : 

 and as men are much out of doors at that feafon of the year, 

 and are liable to be wetted by the continued fliowei's, it 

 has been much more taken notice of than that upon the 

 eaft coaft, where it falls chieHy at a time of the year when 

 men are, from neceffity, obliged to keep the houfc in a 

 great meafure. 



o 



The eiTeft of this diverftty upon the fticep, however^ 

 ought to be fpecially adverted to. On the eaft coaft, the 

 rain falling in winter^ while the wool is long, drenches 

 the fleece, which becomes not only fo weighty as to prove: 

 extremely burdenfome to the animal ; but by being kept 

 long wet during that cold feafon, the flieep is chilled by 

 the cold, and rendered thereby unhearty and difeafed. 

 The earth alfo, being drenched with water, becomes 

 a puddle ; and food being then fcanty, thefe multiplied 

 calamities taken together, tend much to injure the health j 



H and 



