Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

HIGHLAND PASTURAGE. 97
Common poultry forms a part of almost every tenant's
establishment, however small ; and the fowls are inmates
of the house, always partaking the fire in wet weather
with the other two legged inhabitants, as well as with the
snoring and useless curs. The people might advanta-
geously raise much more than they do, if they would be
at the trouble of cultivating additional potatoes. Owing
to their ready access to heat, the fowls lay equally well
in winter as in summer, as I remarked on a late occasion.
When they do not lay, indeed, it is in the time of harvest,
to the great distress of gentlemen travellers ; as it is
usual to tether them by the legs to a tree, a plough, or a
cart, and thus to starve them to prevent them from
depredating on the corn. Southern tourists will also be
amused to see them cased in gloves, or boots, or stock-
ings, to prevent them'from destroying the new-laid thatch.
When not the object of sale, they are a medium of rent
in the shape of kain fowls, as are the eggf--. Recently,
however, higgling vessels have begun to make periodical
voyages through the maritime Highlands ; collecting
them principally for the markets of Glasgow and Green-
ock; and raising the price to double the former one,
greatly to the benefit of the people.
It would be well for the small tenants if they would
learn to pay the same attention to ducks and geese; as
both of these will consume and thrive on much natural
food that, for want of such consumers, is wasted. Both
are rare, but geese most so; while perhaps they would
be found the most valuable animal of the two. Small
wastrels of grass are inseparable from these rough lands
and from the system of small farming; and, at present,
the produce of these is useless. Pools and lakes are
found everywhere, and the interminable sea coasts are
peculiarly adapted to these animals ; though I do not
VOL. III. H