| 1887] Hornless Ruminants, 1095 
doctor must have picked the word up from “the Scots” in other 
parts, as in Buchan, which he passed through. 
References by Sir Walter Scott—lt is of great interest to note, 
as has already been done, what light our leading men of letters 
throw in their works on subjects of local investigation, when, es- 
pecially, they held the traditions and antiquities in their minds 
sothoroughly. Luther, Shakespeare, and others had not allowed 
the natural character to escape their notice. By Burns this 
mention of polled cattle is conspicuous by its absence. This 
fact is the more remarkable, as he farmed for a time in Galloway. 
In one of the statistical accounts he is mentioned, not as being 
satisfied with Galloway cattle, but as introducing Ayrshires, It is 
Passing strange that this natural character, which, as to proverb, 
lent itself so well to endearing use, should have not been utilized 
by him. We have failed to discover a reference by him, It is 
quite different with Scott. In “Old Mortality,” chap. iv. (the 
lreby and a “ Highland” drover, hailing from Doune: 
| “And which peasts wad your honor pe for having p= be. 
let me see—the two black—the dun one—yon doddy—him 
à ll that 
fouldna have set off the pest six peasts better myseñ, me 
Ken then as if they were my bairns, puir things, etc. 
In the Same chapter another drove is referred to by the same 
Mirties, together : 
Site, Passed another drove,’ said the squire, ‘with gio bd 
~~ tymen behind them—they were something less 
VOL. XXI.—No, 12 74 
. 
