THE BLACKFACED BREED OF SHEEP. 235 



rail of the bridge gave way, and falling, he was killed upon the 

 spot. While Dun's reputation was at its best, the sheep in the 

 parish of Douglas, in Lanarkshire, obtained some distinction, 

 without however having so good a claim to it. This is learned 

 from the Statistical Account, which says, " the sheep in Douglas 

 parish are superior to those of the neighbouring parishes." 

 Their weight is given at from 7 to 10 lbs. per quarter Dutch, 

 very much less than Dun's. Coming down to the present century, 

 the principal breeders in the early part of it are found to be Mr 

 Welsh, Earlshaugh ; Mr Weir, Priesthill ; Mr Gillespie, Douglas 

 Mill ; Mr IJobertson, Broomlea ; Mr M'Kersie, Glenbuck ; and 

 Mr Foyer, Knowehead, the grandfather of the present tenants. 

 All these men lived about the same time half a century ago. 

 About twenty to thirty years ago the most important breeders 

 were the late Mr Foyer, Knowehead ; Mr Watson, Xisbet ; Mr 

 Watson, Mitchellhill ; Mr Craig, Craigdarroch ; Mr Dryfe, Barr ; 

 Mr Murray, Eastside ; Mr Miligan, Kirkhope ; Mr Sandilands, 

 Cummerhead ; and Mr M'Kersie, Glenbuck. In more recent 

 years, the stocks which have taken the lead have been those of 

 Mr Archibald, Overshiels ; Mr Foyer, Knowehead ; Mr Craig, 

 Craigdarroch ; Mr Aitkeo, Listonshiels ; Mr Brydon, Burncastle ; 

 Mr Craig, Southhalls ; Mr Fleming, Ploughlands ; Mr Green- 

 shields, West Town ; Mr Sloan, Barnhill; Mr Howatson of 

 Glenbuck ; Mr Watson, Culterallers ; Mr Melrose, Westloch ; 

 Mr Moffat, Gateside ; Mr Ptobertson, Achilty; Mr Malcolm of 

 Poltalloch ; Mr Coubrough, Blairtumnock ; and Mr Buchanan, 

 Letter. 



For the sale of blackfaced sheep, the market held at West 

 Linton, in the end of June, continued the most important in 

 Scotland till 1857, when it was transferred to Lanark, where 

 blackfaced ewes and wedder hoggs are still largely represented ; 

 but for tups it has been entirely superseded by the autumn ram 

 sales, the most important of which are Edinburgh, Perth, and 

 Ayr, — the sale at Edinburgh being established as the Lothian 

 Piam Society in 1864. It is at lAlinburgh that the highest 

 prices arc obtained. Till 1871 the trade remained at a com- 

 paratively low level. In this year, however, prices made a 

 decided spring, Mr Greenshields averaging £12 for a lot of 46, 

 and Mr Aitken, Listonshiels, £11, 2s. (jd. for a lot of 50. In 

 1872 the highest prices were those of the Over.shiels sheep, 

 which averaged £0, 14s., while the next were Mr Brydon's, at 

 £9, 2s. 6d. Since that year Mr Archibald has always realised 

 the highest prices, except in 1875. The highest prices yet 

 obtained were those of last year (1882), when the Overshiels lot 

 averaged £16, 12s. lid. The largest figure ever given for a 

 single tup was £71, which was paid by Mr Tlowatson in 1881 

 for one of Mr Archibald's lot. 



In an essay of this kind it is not necessary to go into minute 



