Shetland had a parliamentary constituency of 358 in 1875-76; and with Orkney forms a county, which sends one member to parliament. In 1876 Shetland had 5,772 horses, 21,030 cattle, 87,925 sheep, and 4,663 pigs; 10,859 acres in oats and barley, the only grain crops; and 618 acres in turnips. The native cattle, sheep, and horses (shelties or ponies) are small. The valued rent in 1877-78 was £36,695. Free landed property is termed udal, and the proprietor an udaler. Shetland. has 14 civil parishes, with 23 established churches, and 9 free.
The surface is rugged and wild, and often sterile. The coasts are abrupt, and cut with deep bays or woes, and caves. The rocks are mainly gneiss, clay-slate, sandstone, granite, sienite, mica-slate, serpentine, and diallage. The highest hills are Ronas, 1500 ft., and one of five in Foula. 1400. The coast cliff scenery is very fine, and none in Scotland surpasses that about Papa Stour. The climate is moist and variable. South-w., s., and n. winds prevail. The mean temperature for the year is 45', for Jan. 39', and for July 53', winter being warmer, and summer cooler thamin the s. of Scotland. The mean annual rainfall at Bressay is 38 in., and at East Yell, 50. The tide flows an hour
earlier on the w. than on the e. side of Shetland. The prevailing diseases are dyspepsia, rheumatism. and catarrh, Infant mortality. is not high. Idiotcy and imbecility are frequent. Fair hair and blue eyes are very common.
Though we know little or nothing of the original inhabitants of Shetland, the physiognomy, character, and language of the present point to a Norse or Scandinavian descent. In Unst, etc., have been found cairns over long and short stone coffins, with skeletons, clay urns, weapons, and stone vessels. Tumuli and burned stones and earth are frequent, and contain remains of rude buildings and stone implements. Circular strongholds of unhewn stone, called burghs or " broughs," are very numerous, generally on a cliff or headland, but also on artificial islands in fresh-water lochs. Mouse isle has the most perfect " brough"'known. In Sandsting occur very rude underground houses, with the rudest stone implements. In Bressay was found a stone of the Christian period, with an Ogham inscription. Monoliths are rather frequent, Stone circles are rare, and never large.