2 *

ON THE LIVE-STOCK

It is therefore proposed to divide this Part into four Sec-tions, for the purpose of exhibiting a view of

I. The several breeds of cattle in Scotland .

II. The system* adopted in different districts with regardto breeding and rearing them.

III. Their produce, under the several heads of 1st , Milk ;

2 d, Labour; and, 3d, Carcase. And,

IV. Their most prevalent distempers.

The difference of breeds, as well as of their managementwhen young, and their ultimate produce, depends in a greatmeasure on the circumstances of the districts in which theyarc found; and when either these circumstances, or the se-veral purposes for which cattle are kept, occasion a diversityin any of these respects, it is conceived that it will be a pre-ferable method to notice this under the same general head,instead of repeating almost the same particulars under eachseparate division.

In describing the breeds also, a more accurate view maybe obtained by attending to such as are evidently distinguish-ed from one another by their size, form and properties, thanby their locality. In some counties, all the different breedsmay be found, and the very same breed extends over severalothers, with no other difference than such as is produced bysoil, climate and management. But, as it may be desirableto know, in what counties these breeds are reared, and eventhe cattle that are to be found in each county,—the districtover which each breed is spread will be mentioned when de-scribing it, and a short account of the cattle and other live-stock of each county given in an Appendix .

It is necessary to observe, that the following varieties arenot understood to be all of them distinct original breeds; onthe contrary, they may have arisen from one, or perhaps, atthe most, two varieties, and been formed partly by crossing,after different families had been long subjected to the influenceof local causes, with one another, or with foreign breeds.