118 THE ORNITHOLOGIST'S GUIDE 



been procured there. It will be perceived that 

 comparatively few species are permanent resi- 

 dents ; a great number being migratory, some only 

 occurring occasionally, and others being merely 



accidental visitors. 



In concluding this slight sketch of the Orni- 

 thology of these northern appendages of Britain, 

 I shall give a short account of the animals which 

 breed there. The following list comprehends all 

 they afford. The Horse, Ox, Sheep, Hog, Cat, 

 Rat, Mouse, Rabbit, and Ermine. 



Equus CABAiiiiUS 5 Linn. Horse. — The native 

 Shetland Horse is small, but strong and capable of 

 enduring great fatigue : some are verv diminutive, 

 I brought one to England which did not exceed 

 thirty-two inches in height. Those of Orkney are 

 much larger and better proportioned. They ge- 

 nerally run wild on the hills in Shetland until 

 they are between two and three years old, when 

 they are caught (a task of considerable difficulty) 

 for the purpose of carrying loads. Though never 

 regularly broken in, they soon become tractable; 

 this docility however does not arise so much from 

 a natural want of spirit in the animal as from the 

 poor supply of provision they are allowed. Great 



