My dear Mr. Darwin

I have much pleasure in giving you any information I can in regard to the little ledges on the mountain sides or slopes.² 1^st. as to grazing I have frequently observed that Cattle & Sheep do graze across the Slope horizontally & rarely feed vertically except when wind or rain compel them to turn their tails down to protect their heads or when they maintain their onward course horizontally. I should consider the horizontal ledges one sees on our very steep slopes to be caused by the Sheep depasturing thereon as both Cattle & Sheep usually maintain a horizontal position while grazing to save I suppose their back sinews & for their comfort that being so the angle of the bed of the valley would not affect their position usually at right angles to the perpendicular or nearly so

On the lower Heaths where Cattle graze with the Sheep there are two sets of pathways or ledges on the steep sides of the gorges caused by the Stock being driven to seek Shelter or by the Shepherds from boundary to boundary or other reasons   Our mountain Sheep are very clever in knowing how to shift for themselves with the least amount of friction or loss to their bodies so they dont go straight up a hillside by choice

I shall be most happy to answer any other question you may have for me on the subject though there is little more to add that I can think of   I have not consulted any of our Shepherds as I feel sure they wd only confirm my observations if questioned on the matter

Believe me My dear M^r Darwin | yours very truly | Law^ce. Ruck