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NATURAL HISTORY OF ORKNEY.

CLASS I. QUADRUPEDS.

GENUS I.—THE HORSE.

Equus Caballus. Equus cauda undique setosa, Lin. Syst. 100. Brit. Zool. 1. p. 1. Illust. Tab. 50, for the Arabian. Sibbald, Scot. 6.

THE Orkney breed of horses is but small, being that used in the Highland shires of Scotland, such as Caithness, Sutherland, &c. but, when properly taken care of, are neat, brisk, and hardy; well adapted to the nature of our uneven country; can bear much more fatigue than the large south-country horses brought hither; and, in a word, serve well every purpose of the farmer. Some time ago the Orkney men had a vast prejudice against keeping mares, and raised none of their own horses, which were all imported, at a vast expence, from the northern shires of Scotland; but within these six or seven years, they seem pretty much to have got over this whim, and every man rears as he can afford, which will save yearly some thousand pounds to the country. The shelties

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mentioned by Buchanan, and described by Sir Robert Sibbald* as no larger than asses, and said to be common both to Orkney and Zetland, are at present confined to the latter, where they still preserve their character of excellent workbeasts: they bring a very few of them to Orkney, but more are sent to other parts of the kingdom, being purchased as curiosities, and to teach children to ride, though their strength is such, that they can carry a man with ease for a long while together. The price of Orkney horses is high, considering the country; indeed, I am often surprised how a farmer here can afford 5, 6, 8, or L.10 Sterling for a horse, and purchase the number many of them keep, especially when I reflect on the little profit many of them make of their farms, which, though greater in some parts of the country than others, is by far less than might be, had they proper markets to bring the produce of them to. Asses are scarce ever seen in the Orkneys, and mules, I dare say, never†.

* Equulei, quoque Orcadenses et Schetlandici, asino haud majores, laboris patientissime sunt.

+ In addition to the history of the horse, I shall insert what the writer of the Husbandrie used by the Orchadians says of these in Orkney: "Their horses lieves "on beare calfe, and grows exceeding fat on the same; they be very little, but

quck and fierie.” To which Mr M'Kaile adds, with truth, "The horses are "little, and go all barefoot, unless the gentlemen put shoes upon the horses upon "which they ride themselves."-P.

GENUS II.-THE OX.

Bos Taurus, Lin. Sys. 98. Sib. Scot. 7. Brit. Zool. 15. Penn. Syn. Quad. 4.

THIS very useful animal seems to be very little regarded in the Orkneys, and is seldom suffered to live above the third year, which, if considered, is a great loss to the farmer. They are very little in the way of setting them to any work here (except a few gentlemen who use them to the plough); though I should think, according to the nature of the country, which is now very much frequented by shipping, these would be preferable to horses, as, when past working, they are no worse for being fed for beef, of which at present a small quantity is made for the Leith market, and for shipping, though much more might be sent to market, and expended in our own country, were trade, fishing, &c. carried on to that extent, and with that spirit it ought, and easily might, in a country so well situated for it. Beef in Orkney sells cheap, seldom above three-halfpence per pound, commonly at a penny, or a penny-farthing; however, it must be confessed, our Orkney beef is neither so large nor so strong as that from the southern countries, nor is it so fit for sea-stock, as it seldom bears salt well for any length of time; for present use, it is both sweet and well-tasted.

Cows are kept in numbers, on account of the rents of the land, part of which is paid in butter, which is distinguished into what is here called meat and grease-butter. The latter

is but coarse, but serves many useful purposes in the soapworks, for cart and coach-wheels, grease, laying of sheep, &c. and, of consequence, is sold high, sometimes at L. 3 odd a barrel, which is more than the best is sold for.

The other articles of merchandize drawn from our cattle, besides beef, of which, one year with another, about a ton may be exported, are hides, tallow, and smoked tongues, which all sell well, and answer our merchants' credit for the few articles required in these parts, and which is entirely confined to those fitted for home consumption.

GENUS III.-THE SHEEP.

Ovis, Raii Syn. Quad. 73. Ovis Aries, Lin. Sys. 97. Penn. Brit. Zool. I. 22. Ejusd. Syn. 10.

In this description of the domestic animals, I would not be understood to place this, or any of the foregoing, as natives of these islands; perhaps none of them are, though it is hard to say at what period they have been introduced: all I mean, by giving them a place here, is to shew in what manner our economy depends upon them, and how they are treated with us, compared with the rest of the world.

This most useful animal seems to have been formerly a greater object with the inhabitants of Orkney than it is now. the Orkney acts, I find many with relation to the manage

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ment of sheep; as*, 1st, to ascertain the property; 2d†, the time of shearing; 3d, with regard to buying and selling;-none of which particulars were allowed to be transacted in secret, or at the will even of the owners, but all must be done in presence of the bailie, and other public officers of the parish; and this for preventing frauds of every kind, in a subject in which the whole community had a concern. To understand this last particular, we must observe, that the sheep in Orkney are never housed at any season, but those of a whole island, parish, &c. constitute a promiscuous flock, out of the power of the owners, except once a-year, when they are to be rowed, (as it is here called) and the lambs marked. Now, if every man had been indulged with a liberty to make free with such a promiscuous property, it would been tempting to dishonesty, and led the whole country into many inconveniencies; to remedy which, they had a set of the most sagacious men in every parish or district set apart, whose business it was to take notice that due regard was paid to the regulation made in this case. As the sheep, upon every occasion, must be taken with the help of dogs, trained for the

* Act" Anent marking of Sheip :-That nane mark sheip, on the mark called "the king's mark, (especiallie within the mainland) without warrand."-Acts in MS. It was also ordered, that every mark should be registered in a book kept for the purpose.

+"Anent rowing of sheip :-That na man row sheip, untill the time they are lawfullie warned be the baylzie, as they will eschew to be repute thieves.”—Ib.

"Anent Sheip-dogis:-That na man keip sheip-dogis but sic as are chosen "be the sherrifis and baylzies, with consent of the parochines, and for whom the baylzie shall be answerable, under the pain of ten punds.”—Ib.

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