SELKIRRSHIRE, in ancient times called Ettrick Forest, is bounded by the counties of Midlothian, Roxburgh, Dumfries, and Peebles, on the Ti., C., s., and w. respectively. It extends in length from n. to s. about 28 na, and from e. to w. 16 to 18 and con sists mainly of the two parallel valleys through which flow the risers Ettrick and Yar row. Its area is 260 sq.m., or 166,524 acres. Selkirkshire contains three entire par ishes, and parts of other seven. It is in a great measure a pastoral county, and some of the hills are of considerable altitude, being upward of 2,000 ft. in height. Time hills are rounded at the top instead of peaked, and are covered generally with grass, afford ing excellent pasturage, but ia some places with heather. The amble land, situated from nearly 300 to a00 ft. above sea-level, and bearing the proportion of about one-eighth of the area, is. in general, of a light soil, and produces the ordinary crops in abundance. Besides the Eitriek and Yarrow, the Tweed, Gala, and Caddon flow through parts of the county The banks of several of these are beautifully wooded; but time extensive woods from which the county originally took its name of the Forest, have disappeared. According to the agricultural returns for 1876, the ac•enae under permanent pasturage (exclusive of heath and mountain land) was 6,286; that of corn crops was 5,325, includ ing 22 acres of wheat, 660 acres of barley, and 4,636 acres of oats; that of green crops was 3,454, embracing 2,990 acres of turnips, 180 acres of potatoes, er.d 227 acres of cab bage, kohlrabi, and rape. The acreage under bay and grass, not included under per
manent pasturage, was 7,676. The average of produce is above that of most of the other counties. Of horses there were 568; of cattle, 2,572; of sheep, 162.719; of swine, 447—total stock, 166,306. The old valued rent was £6,692.‘ The new valuation, including the burgh, is about £110,000. This county contains some historical scenes, among which is the field of Philiphaugh, where the marquis of 3Iontrose was defeated by time Covenanters under gen. Leslie. Oakwood Castle, in ruins, a as the residence of the famous wizard, Michael Scott; and Newark, also in ruins, was the residence of Anne, duchess of Buceleuch, where the Lay of the Last Minstrel is represented by Scott as hav ing been snag. Selkirkshire is pretty well appointed for roads. The ilawick line of the North British railway runs for a short distance along its,border, from which, at Galashiels, there is a branch to Selkirk; and the North British line from Edinburgh to Peebles passes through its northern end front Innerleithen to Galashiels, a distance of about 12 miles There arc several places of worship, belonging to the Establishment, the Free church, and various other bodies. There is no coal, or lime, or sand stone. The Douglas family, four centuries ago, were the principal proprietors. The duke of Bucelench now holds about two-thirds of it. The population in 1871 was 14,005, the inhabited houses 1741. Selkirkshire and Peeblesshire conjoined return one member to parliament.