The wool of these sheep is remarkably soft and fine; but there is so much diversity in its quality, that some stockings at L.2, 2s. per pair, and others at sixpence, are made from it. The common price of tolerable good stockings is from five shillings to half-a-guinea per pair. They are all knitted. The very fine ones, which are esteemed superior in value to silk, will pass through a small finger ring. The different colours of the wool are white, black, light grey, and sometimes a russet. The sheep are never shorn; but early in June the wool is pulled off without injuring the animal. In this process care is taken to leave the long hairs which grow amongst the wool, by which means the young wool is sheltered, and the animal kept warm and comfortable.[4] [4] Shetland sheep seem to be peculiarly calculated for an insular situation, hence they are distinguished by Sir John Sinclair by the name of “Island sheep.” “It has been lately discovered that the skin of this breed, with the fleece on, may be prepared so as to make a beautiful fur; and their excellent quality may probably make them fit to be converted into morocco leather, the raw material of which cannot easily be procured in sufficient quantities.” Vid. Report of the Society for Improvement of British Wool. The people of these isles have attempted to introduce a larger breed of sheep from Britain, but the inclemency of the climate rendered their labours abortive. This verifies what the famous Scottish historian says of these Isles: “_Adeo fera, ut nullum animal nisi illic natum ferat._” Buch. lib. 1. § 50. Here are neither hares nor foxes, though rabbits are plenty; the skins of which are sold at about half-a-guinea per dozen. The flesh of these is nothing inferior to those of Britain, though they are somewhat less in size. The other wild quadrupeds which have reached these islands, are the otter, brown rat, common mouse, fetid shrew, and bat. The Shetland Isles abound with several kinds of birds, as curlews, snipes, grouse, green plovers, redshanks, herons, and other _waders_. The short-eared owl is also frequently seen here, and makes its nest on the ground. This species never flies, like other owls, in search of prey, but sits quiet on an eminence, watching like a cat the appearance of mice or other vermin. No partridges are found in these Isles, and many of the other birds migrate to a warmer clime on the approach of winter. The lofty cliffs impending over the ocean, are the haunts of eagles, falcons, ravens, hawks, hooded crows, &c. The Erne-eagles, which are very ravenous, and destructive among the lambs, possess the most exalted precipices, and, like the falcons, will not admit of any society. This, Pliny, in his _Hist. Nat._ lib. 10. c. 3. beautifully expresses:-- “_Unum par Aquilarum magno ad populandum tractu, ut satietur, indiget; determinant ergo spatia nec in proximo prædantur._”