And what, pray tell, is a "snicket"??? Anne Ardmore (PA) On 9/19/07, Tuck <[email protected]> wrote: > While in Cuckfield, just south of Gatwick last week spending the > night before coming hoome we came across a snicket named Mytten > Twytten. What a fun name. I supose there is an explanation, but I > have no idea what it might be.

Seems like expressions of old bear out the idea of a muckle being either a lot or a little. A cauld needs the ceuk sae muckle the doctor. I need it like a hole in the head.

All, We went to Copinsay last visit to Orkney, and climbed the lighthouse (as we also did on North Ronaldsay). It is gorgeous, both for the view, and the lenses and mirrors themselves. Have any of you read the book about the Stevenson family of lighthouse builders, in which Robert Louis was the odd one out, the dreamer and teller of stories? I am sure many of you have. It's fascinating. Most of the really difficult ones were built by them. Thanks for the info on Muckle Flugga which is indeed the rock off the northern tip of Unst in Shetland, and is the northernmost point in the UK. That makes for a good trivia question. While in Cuckfield, just south of Gatwick last week spending the night before coming hoome we came across a snicket named Mytten Twytten. What a fun name. I supose there is an explanation, but I have no idea what it might be. Tuck On Sep 19, 2007, at 12:54 PM, Ron Ireland wrote: > Lisa, > As an ex lightkeeper myself (Copinsay while in Orkney) I'm > wondering if I > know your cousin > Regards, Ron. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Lisa Conrad" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 2:43 PM > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Highland Cattle > > >> >> {> on 9/18/07 7:37 PM <} Tuck wrote -- >> >> All >> >> If "muckle" means big, then what does "flugga" mean, as in Muckle >> Flugga, the northernmost point in the UK? >> _____________ >> >> I looked in a book I have, "IT's a Long Way to Muckle Flugga - >> Journeys in >> Northern Scotland" [by W.R. Mitchell], to see if "flugga" was >> defined .... >> no luck there. I'm not sure what it means. >> >> I have a cousin who was the keeper at the lighthouse there (during >> the >> time >> when keepers were still needed) ... I could try emailing him to >> ask him, >> Tuck, if you are still wondering? >> >> - Lisa > > > >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

I have only heard/seen it used to mean big. The same people that use "muckle" for large use will sometimes use "peddie" or peedie" for small. The later I think (dangerous habit) may be particular to rural Caithness. Is it used in Orkney..or some variant? R -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of stephen davie Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 1:34 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [ORCADIA] a muckle confusing? Seems like expressions of old bear out the idea of a muckle being either a lot or a little. A cauld needs the ceuk sae muckle the doctor. I need it like a hole in the head. _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

... in Muckle Flugga, the northernmost point in the UK? ----- "IT's a Long Way to Muckle Flugga - Journeys in Northern Scotland" [by W.R. Mitchell], ``````````` hhm, page 180 of the abovementioned book has this bit:- " All along I had given the impression [Muckle Flugga] was the most northerly point of Britain, but now I confessed that distinction belongs to the Outstack, a lump of smooth and naked rock which is fractionally farther north. 'Not even the gulls bother with it'. "

Norman Tulloch wrote: > Tuck wrote: >> All >> >> If "muckle" means big, then what does "flugga" mean, as in Muckle >> Flugga, the northernmost point in the UK? > > In "The Dictionary of Scottish Place Names", Mike Darton has the following: > > "*Muckle Flugga* [Shetland] 'Large (mikill, ON) cliffs (flugga, ON)" > > ON, of course, means Old Norse. > > Norman Tulloch > A Wikipedia article contains this: The name comes from Old Norse, Mikla Flugey, meaning "large steep-sided island". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muckle_Flugga Since Muckle Flugga is a small island, that seems an odd interpretation. I should think the "muckle" refers to the size of the cliffs rather than of the island itself. However, it certainly seems possible that the "a" ending of Flugga means "island". (Compare with Sanday, the sandy island, Westray, the western island, etc, where the "ay" means "island". The "y" that is now part of these spellings was often omitted in the past.) Incidentally, much further south, just off the Mull of Kintyre, there's an island called Sanda. It's often referred to as "the Isle of Sanda" or "Sanda Island". Somewhat tautological terms, these — "the Isle of Sandy Island" or "Sandy Island Island"! Norman Tulloch

Tuck wrote: > All > > If "muckle" means big, then what does "flugga" mean, as in Muckle > Flugga, the northernmost point in the UK? In "The Dictionary of Scottish Place Names", Mike Darton has the following: "*Muckle Flugga* [Shetland] 'Large (mikill, ON) cliffs (flugga, ON)" ON, of course, means Old Norse. Norman Tulloch

{> on 9/18/07 7:37 PM <} Tuck wrote -- All If "muckle" means big, then what does "flugga" mean, as in Muckle Flugga, the northernmost point in the UK? _____________ I looked in a book I have, "IT's a Long Way to Muckle Flugga - Journeys in Northern Scotland" [by W.R. Mitchell], to see if "flugga" was defined .... no luck there. I'm not sure what it means. I have a cousin who was the keeper at the lighthouse there (during the time when keepers were still needed) ... I could try emailing him to ask him, Tuck, if you are still wondering? - Lisa

Small rocky island north of Unst in the shetlands...apparently. On Sep 18, 2007, at 10:37 PM, Tuck wrote: > All > > If "muckle" means big, then what does "flugga" mean, as in Muckle > Flugga, the northernmost point in the UK? >

Or perhaps...a little..."a muckle weer?" On Sep 18, 2007, at 7:22 PM, Royce Perry wrote: > In some Scottish dialects "muckle" would mean big. > R > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:orcadia- > [email protected]] On > Behalf Of Evelyn Hlabse > Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 5:49 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Highland Cattle > > I can remember my mother referring to them that way too. > > > > On Sep 18, 2007, at 6:42 PM, Isabella Moreland wrote: > > My Dad referred to one of them as a " Mukkle coo !! " > Isabella > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bruce Fletcher (Stronsay)" <[email protected]> > Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 10:41 am > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Highland Cattle > To: [email protected] > >> stephen davie wrote: >>> One of the favorite beasts here is the Highland Cattle breed. >> Poor as >>> they are on the test stations for daily rate of gain on >> controlled >>> programs, they have become hereabouts "estate cattle", >> with slow >>> growth and several unique qualities but with incredible >> personable >>> traits. They are frugal keepers, existing on the toughest of >> pasture >>> and in the worst of weather with little or no shelter. They >> have a >>> great fury hide to tan like a buffalo, and great whacking >> horns to >>> intimidate city folk intruders.Ttheir back fat content >> measures less >>> than skinned boned chicken breast. They inspire a dignified >> air to >>> any country place, like a cupola and a wind vane on a barn roof. >>> >>> I understand the blunt economics of the cattle biz, but indeed >> why >>> are there not more highlands in Orkney? Were they not the >> original >>> beasts up there? >> >> From what I remember from our time in the Scottish >> Highlands (Brora, >> Sutherland - 30 years ago) Highland cattle both graze and browse >> as well >> as eating plants that other cattle avoid. I don't know about the >> rest of >> Orkney but the monks on Papa Stronsay used to have a few >> Highland cows. >> The original inhabitants of Skara Brae ate cattle that might >> have been >> of the highland type - see <http://www.cruachan.com.au/history.htm> >> -- >> Bruce Fletcher >> Stronsay, Orkney >> <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> >> "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?" >> _______________________________________ >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > Isabella > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > Evelyn S. Hlabse > Richmond Heights, Ohio > http://homepage.mac.com/evelynhlabse/Home/home.html > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

Now there's a word I never did quite understand. There is an old expression a fellow here quotes. It's something like..."No matter how wee the tree ha been, the g cramp... she's a muckle weer." Which I suppose is to say, seems the carpenter, when estimating what size of clamp needed to hold wood in place, always comes up with a clamp just a tad too small?? (we tend to underestimate things?) Sorry for the crude Canadian distortiion of what I am sure is a great Scottish expression. Any repair advice on this old saying will be appreciated. Stephen On Sep 18, 2007, at 6:42 PM, Isabella Moreland wrote: > My Dad referred to one of them as a " Mukkle coo !! " > Isabella > > -

I remember having the chat about highlands with Father Michael on Papa Stronsay when I was there. They had other crossbred cattle as well. They also had a newfoundland dog which had died, which they were very fond of. Norman's attachment to his note on this string is interesting. Seems to confirm that there is reason to suspect that the longhorn highlands of scotland may well have been a norwegian/scandinavian import. Perhaps that is where the hollywood makeup artists got the idea that vikings had highland horns sticking out of their metal headgear. I marvel, as do people here with highland folds, at the economy and self sufficiency of these beasts, their dignified appearance, their amazing defensive calving characteristics, and the duality of their purpose. A wee highland cow will produce a respectable pail of milk. I you google the canadian highland cattle association, there are some very interesting photos and banners. The wee beastie on the face page, up to his belly in snow in a woodland setting. looks like a close relative of a moose or deer. Those barren hillsides overlooking Orkney's sea coasts, would look nice with a few of the shaggy shepherds standing guard. Stephen On Sep 18, 2007, at 1:19 PM, Bruce Fletcher (Stronsay) wrote: > stephen davie wrote: >> One of the favorite beasts here is the Highland Cattle breed. Poor as >> they are on the test stations for daily rate of gain on controlled >> programs, they have become hereabouts "estate cattle", with slow >> growth and several unique qualities but with incredible personable >> traits. They are frugal keepers, existing on the toughest of pasture >> and in the worst of weather with little or no shelter. They have a >> great fury hide to tan like a buffalo, and great whacking horns to >> intimidate city folk intruders.Ttheir back fat content measures less >> than skinned boned chicken breast. They inspire a dignified air to >> any country place, like a cupola and a wind vane on a barn roof. >> >> I understand the blunt economics of the cattle biz, but indeed why >> are there not more highlands in Orkney? Were they not the original >> beasts up there? > > From what I remember from our time in the Scottish Highlands (Brora, > Sutherland - 30 years ago) Highland cattle both graze and browse as > well > as eating plants that other cattle avoid. I don't know about the > rest of > Orkney but the monks on Papa Stronsay used to have a few Highland > cows. > The original inhabitants of Skara Brae ate cattle that might have been > of the highland type - see <http://www.cruachan.com.au/history.htm> > -- > Bruce Fletcher > Stronsay, Orkney > <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> > "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?" > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

All If "muckle" means big, then what does "flugga" mean, as in Muckle Flugga, the northernmost point in the UK? On Sep 18, 2007, at 7:22 PM, Royce Perry wrote: > In some Scottish dialects "muckle" would mean big. > R > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:orcadia- > [email protected]] On > Behalf Of Evelyn Hlabse > Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 5:49 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Highland Cattle > > I can remember my mother referring to them that way too. > > > > On Sep 18, 2007, at 6:42 PM, Isabella Moreland wrote: > > My Dad referred to one of them as a " Mukkle coo !! " > Isabella > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bruce Fletcher (Stronsay)" <[email protected]> > Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 10:41 am > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Highland Cattle > To: [email protected] > >> stephen davie wrote: >>> One of the favorite beasts here is the Highland Cattle breed. >> Poor as >>> they are on the test stations for daily rate of gain on >> controlled >>> programs, they have become hereabouts "estate cattle", >> with slow >>> growth and several unique qualities but with incredible >> personable >>> traits. They are frugal keepers, existing on the toughest of >> pasture >>> and in the worst of weather with little or no shelter. They >> have a >>> great fury hide to tan like a buffalo, and great whacking >> horns to >>> intimidate city folk intruders.Ttheir back fat content >> measures less >>> than skinned boned chicken breast. They inspire a dignified >> air to >>> any country place, like a cupola and a wind vane on a barn roof. >>> >>> I understand the blunt economics of the cattle biz, but indeed >> why >>> are there not more highlands in Orkney? Were they not the >> original >>> beasts up there? >> >> From what I remember from our time in the Scottish >> Highlands (Brora, >> Sutherland - 30 years ago) Highland cattle both graze and browse >> as well >> as eating plants that other cattle avoid. I don't know about the >> rest of >> Orkney but the monks on Papa Stronsay used to have a few >> Highland cows. >> The original inhabitants of Skara Brae ate cattle that might >> have been >> of the highland type - see <http://www.cruachan.com.au/history.htm> >> -- >> Bruce Fletcher >> Stronsay, Orkney >> <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> >> "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?" >> _______________________________________ >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > Isabella > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > Evelyn S. Hlabse > Richmond Heights, Ohio > http://homepage.mac.com/evelynhlabse/Home/home.html > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

Again from Fenton: "The colours of the Northern Isles [i.e. Orkney and Shetland] cattle were white, black, brown or red and generally not uniform. A grimet... cow had a white face with dark spots or stripes. A lenget... cow or horse had a stripe across the back, or black and white stripes or markings over the back. If it was ridyid... it had a different coloured stripe down its back, often running from the back of the ears to the tip of the tail. In Birsay, this stripe was always white. Such a stripe was a rig in Shetland, giving rise to the cow name Rigga. If the cow was sholmit... its face was white and it might get the pet name Sholma. If it was vandit... it was usually of a brown or dun colour with black stripes, zebra-like." Several sources given by Fenton for the above relate to Shetland, but he also cites the Orcadians John Firth and Hugh Marwick. Norman Tulloch

The tradition cattle were small and black Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device -----Original Message----- From: "Bruce Fletcher (Stronsay)" <[email protected]> Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:19:00 To:[email protected] Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Highland Cattle stephen davie wrote: > One of the favorite beasts here is the Highland Cattle breed. Poor as > they are on the test stations for daily rate of gain on controlled > programs, they have become hereabouts "estate cattle", with slow > growth and several unique qualities but with incredible personable > traits. They are frugal keepers, existing on the toughest of pasture > and in the worst of weather with little or no shelter. They have a > great fury hide to tan like a buffalo, and great whacking horns to > intimidate city folk intruders.Ttheir back fat content measures less > than skinned boned chicken breast. They inspire a dignified air to > any country place, like a cupola and a wind vane on a barn roof. > > I understand the blunt economics of the cattle biz, but indeed why > are there not more highlands in Orkney? Were they not the original > beasts up there? From what I remember from our time in the Scottish Highlands (Brora, Sutherland - 30 years ago) Highland cattle both graze and browse as well as eating plants that other cattle avoid. I don't know about the rest of Orkney but the monks on Papa Stronsay used to have a few Highland cows. The original inhabitants of Skara Brae ate cattle that might have been of the highland type - see <http://www.cruachan.com.au/history.htm> -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?" _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

The Orkney cattle of the early 19th century certainly don't seem to have been what we regard as Highland cattle today. From Alexander Fenton's "The Northern Isles: Orkney and Shetland": "In 1808 it was estimated that Shetland had about 30,000 milk cows, 1,000 oxen and 10,000 young cattle, a ratio which by no means squares with the figures given for 1845. In fact, an estimate made about 1814 amounted only to 15,000 of all ages. The cows were small, weighing at most 2 to 3 cwt when fat... "In Orkney, the cattle were very similar to those of Caithness. Improvements were being made by individuals like Captain Sutherland of Burray, who was concentrating on the Dunrobin breed from Caithness. Crosses with native cows did well. Mr Baikie's farm in Egilsay, Cliffdale in Shapinsay and Melsetter in Hoy all had good cattle, but these were isolated examples... The small Shetland cow, with long narrow horns and short legs, produced sweet and tender beef. Orkney cattle, however, got little praise. They were also small and at one time had been smaller than those in Shetland. In 1814 they were described as being of various colours, though black was common, with low heads, high backs, thin buttocks, and horns that were 'short and contracted, with their tops bending down toward the forehead'. Overstocking was one of the factors in keeping the quality low." Orkney cattle, then, sound like a poor lot and, indeed, in the early 19th century agriculture in Orkney was in a pretty backward state. No doubt the cattle improved during the agricultural revolution later in the 19th century. Probably Aberdeen Angus cattle and other breeds would have been introduced at that time. I suspect that in any case cattle breed standards weren't particularly defined until the advent of the various breed societies, mostly in the late 19th century. Anyway, enough of cows; there's rugby coming up on television. Norman Tulloch

I can remember my mother referring to them that way too. On Sep 18, 2007, at 6:42 PM, Isabella Moreland wrote: My Dad referred to one of them as a " Mukkle coo !! " Isabella ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce Fletcher (Stronsay)" <[email protected]> Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 10:41 am Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Highland Cattle To: [email protected] > stephen davie wrote: >> One of the favorite beasts here is the Highland Cattle breed. > Poor as  >> they are on the test stations for daily rate of gain on > controlled  >> programs, they have become hereabouts  "estate cattle", > with slow  >> growth and several unique qualities but with incredible > personable  >> traits. They are frugal keepers, existing on the toughest of > pasture  >> and in the worst of weather with little or no shelter. They > have a  >> great fury hide to tan like a buffalo, and great whacking > horns to  >> intimidate city folk intruders.Ttheir back fat content > measures less  >> than skinned boned chicken breast. They inspire a dignified > air to  >> any country place, like a cupola and a wind vane on a barn roof. >> >> I understand the blunt economics of the cattle biz, but indeed > why  >> are there not more highlands in Orkney? Were they not the > original  >> beasts up there? > >  From what I remember from our time in the Scottish > Highlands (Brora, > Sutherland - 30 years ago) Highland cattle both graze and browse > as well > as eating plants that other cattle avoid. I don't know about the > rest of > Orkney but the monks on Papa Stronsay used to have a few > Highland cows. > The original inhabitants of Skara Brae ate cattle that might > have been > of the highland type - see <http://www.cruachan.com.au/history.htm> > -- > Bruce Fletcher > Stronsay, Orkney > <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> > "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?" > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > Isabella _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message Evelyn S. Hlabse Richmond Heights, Ohio http://homepage.mac.com/evelynhlabse/Home/home.html

In some Scottish dialects "muckle" would mean big. R -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Evelyn Hlabse Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 5:49 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Highland Cattle I can remember my mother referring to them that way too. On Sep 18, 2007, at 6:42 PM, Isabella Moreland wrote: My Dad referred to one of them as a " Mukkle coo !! " Isabella ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce Fletcher (Stronsay)" <[email protected]> Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 10:41 am Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Highland Cattle To: [email protected] > stephen davie wrote: >> One of the favorite beasts here is the Highland Cattle breed. > Poor as  >> they are on the test stations for daily rate of gain on > controlled  >> programs, they have become hereabouts  "estate cattle", > with slow  >> growth and several unique qualities but with incredible > personable  >> traits. They are frugal keepers, existing on the toughest of > pasture  >> and in the worst of weather with little or no shelter. They > have a  >> great fury hide to tan like a buffalo, and great whacking > horns to  >> intimidate city folk intruders.Ttheir back fat content > measures less  >> than skinned boned chicken breast. They inspire a dignified > air to  >> any country place, like a cupola and a wind vane on a barn roof. >> >> I understand the blunt economics of the cattle biz, but indeed > why  >> are there not more highlands in Orkney? Were they not the > original  >> beasts up there? > >  From what I remember from our time in the Scottish > Highlands (Brora, > Sutherland - 30 years ago) Highland cattle both graze and browse > as well > as eating plants that other cattle avoid. I don't know about the > rest of > Orkney but the monks on Papa Stronsay used to have a few > Highland cows. > The original inhabitants of Skara Brae ate cattle that might > have been > of the highland type - see <http://www.cruachan.com.au/history.htm> > -- > Bruce Fletcher > Stronsay, Orkney > <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> > "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?" > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > Isabella _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message Evelyn S. Hlabse Richmond Heights, Ohio http://homepage.mac.com/evelynhlabse/Home/home.html _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

stephen davie wrote: > One of the favorite beasts here is the Highland Cattle breed. Poor as > they are on the test stations for daily rate of gain on controlled > programs, they have become hereabouts "estate cattle", with slow > growth and several unique qualities but with incredible personable > traits. They are frugal keepers, existing on the toughest of pasture > and in the worst of weather with little or no shelter. They have a > great fury hide to tan like a buffalo, and great whacking horns to > intimidate city folk intruders.Ttheir back fat content measures less > than skinned boned chicken breast. They inspire a dignified air to > any country place, like a cupola and a wind vane on a barn roof. > > I understand the blunt economics of the cattle biz, but indeed why > are there not more highlands in Orkney? Were they not the original > beasts up there? From what I remember from our time in the Scottish Highlands (Brora, Sutherland - 30 years ago) Highland cattle both graze and browse as well as eating plants that other cattle avoid. I don't know about the rest of Orkney but the monks on Papa Stronsay used to have a few Highland cows. The original inhabitants of Skara Brae ate cattle that might have been of the highland type - see <http://www.cruachan.com.au/history.htm> -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?"

I remember seeing some highland cows at Braebuster (in Deerness) this past summer. Peggy "Bruce Fletcher (Stronsay)" <[email protected]> wrote: stephen davie wrote: > One of the favorite beasts here is the Highland Cattle breed. Poor as > they are on the test stations for daily rate of gain on controlled > programs, they have become hereabouts "estate cattle", with slow > growth and several unique qualities but with incredible personable > traits. They are frugal keepers, existing on the toughest of pasture > and in the worst of weather with little or no shelter. They have a > great fury hide to tan like a buffalo, and great whacking horns to > intimidate city folk intruders.Ttheir back fat content measures less > than skinned boned chicken breast. They inspire a dignified air to > any country place, like a cupola and a wind vane on a barn roof. > > I understand the blunt economics of the cattle biz, but indeed why > are there not more highlands in Orkney? Were they not the original > beasts up there? >From what I remember from our time in the Scottish Highlands (Brora, Sutherland - 30 years ago) Highland cattle both graze and browse as well as eating plants that other cattle avoid. I don't know about the rest of Orkney but the monks on Papa Stronsay used to have a few Highland cows. The original inhabitants of Skara Brae ate cattle that might have been of the highland type - see -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?" _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message --------------------------------- Luggage? GPS? Comic books? Check out fitting gifts for grads at Yahoo! Search.