Wilson — Scandinavian Origin of Hornless Cattle of British Isles. 155 



coasts just as in Aberdeenshire, and that they occupied even a considerable 

 area in Caitliness. What were called the " native " cattle there bear a strong 

 resemblance to those of the Aberdeenshire coast. " Sir John Sinclair had a 

 large property in Caithness : he observed and lamented, and materially 

 suffered by, this wretched state of the cattle, and tiiought of many plans for 

 their improvement. He first tried what he could do by crossing the native 

 breed. The chest was small, and the ribs flat, and the back thin ; there was 

 not room for the heart to beat, nor the lungs to play."' Again : " Oxen are 

 yet used in Caithness for husbandry work. The native breed has neither 

 sufficient substance nor spirit ; the Galloways are heavier but slow, and do 

 not thrive well in Caithness, and, on the whole, the Highlanders are the 

 best working oxen."^ " The native breed of Sutherland is much smaller than 

 that of Caithness."^ In Eoss and Cromarty, " The cattle which are kept in 

 the lowlands are principally for the dairy, and they are a mixed breed. There 

 are many pure West Highlanders, but not so small as the common breed of 

 cattle in the counties further north, but there are more of the native cattle, 

 with various degrees of crossing ; and others have the Fife and the Moray, 

 and crosses of every kind with them."^ 



Thus, in the northern counties, just as in Aberdeenshire, the small cattle 

 were being " graded " by cattle from the south ; and although we have no 

 information as to their horns, excepting in Sutherlandshiro, the descriptions 

 just quoted bear a strong resemblance to those of the cattle on the Aberdeen- 

 shire coast. As to their colour, only one definite statement can be found, viz., 

 the Eoss-shire breed " are of all colours, but black and brindle predominate, 

 and are the favourites, as indicating most constitution."' 



Shje. — For the information that there were hornless cattle in Skye, we are 

 indebted to no less a person than Dr. Samuel Johnson : " The cattle of Sky are 

 not so small as is commonly believed. ... Of their black cattle, some are without 

 horns, called by the Scots humble cows, as we call a bee an humble bee that 

 wants a sting. Whether this difference be speoifiek, or accidental, though 

 we inquired with great diligence, we could not be informed. We are not 

 very sure that the bull is ever without horns ; though we have been told that 

 such bulls there are. What is produced by putting a horned and unhorned 

 male and female together, no man has ever tried that thought the result 

 worthy of observation."" 



There is no record in which the colours of the older cattle of Skye are 

 specially mentioned ; but they may be inferred from those of the cattle on 



' Touatt, p. 88. = Ibid., p. 90. ^ Ibid., p. 93. * Ibid., p. 95. 



^ Ibid., p. 97. Thia statement was made to Youatt by Mr. MacKenzie of Millbauk near 

 Dingwall. 



^ " The Works of Samuel Johnson, " Dublin, 1793, vol. iv., p. 479. 



2c2 



