CHAPTER XV. 



SHETLAND PONIES. 



The Shetland Isles — Sustained by survival of the fittest — Purest of all 

 breeds of ponies. 



THE Shetland Islands, lying in the high latitude of 59 to 61 

 degrees, north of Scotland, once belonged to Denmark,, 

 but since the year 1468 have belonged to and are a part of Scot- 

 land, being separated therefrom by nearly 200 miles of rough 

 and dangerous sea. 



They consist of about 120 islands, the whole area of which 

 is about 500 square miles. Of all these islands' only about 

 fifteen or twenty are inhabited, chief among which is the Main- 

 land, containing the only towns or villages in the whole group. 

 Lerwick, with a population of about 5,000, is the capital, and 

 Scalloway, the former capital, has a population of about 700, 

 and is situated about seven miles west of Lerwich on the coast ;. 

 all other places are very small and devoted almost entirely to* 

 the fishing interests. 



The other islands of this group of some account are Bres- 

 say, Whalsey, Fetlar, Yell, and Unst, the latter being the 

 most northern of the entire group, and on which is situated 

 Haroldswick, the most northern port and post-office of Her 

 Majesty's domains. 



To the west of the Mainland are Foula, Muckle Eoe, Papa 

 Stow, and East and West Burra. 



These islands are bleak, barren, and tempestuous, and in 

 winter are extremely cold and uncomfortable, owing their 

 severity of climate more to the cold, damp, sweeping winds, 

 than to the actual degree of coldness as indicated by the ther- 

 mometer, which seldom registers below zero. A zero-day on 

 the Shetland Isles, with a stiff breeze full of sea dampness,, 



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