THE MUTTON BREEDS OF SHEEP 359 



The type of the breed has been well maintained by the 

 English breeders, and the flocks of the various breeders 

 now show a uniformity that is very desirable. Game 

 of North Leach, Hugh Aylmer of Norfolk, Gillett of 

 Chalsbury and Swannock of Cidencester were notable 

 breeders who had flocks of good type. 



440. History in America. We have a record of an 

 importation of Cotswold sheep by Christopher Dunn, of 

 Albany, New York, in 1832. Doubtless there had been 

 previous importations, for even at that date sheep of this 

 type were rather common in New York. In 1834, Isaac 

 Maynard took a small flock into Ohio. In 1837 they 

 reached Kentucky, where they later became very popular. 

 In 1840, Erastus Corning, also of Albany, brought over a 

 select lot; and W. H. Sotham made an importation of 

 nineteen about the same time. In 1854, George Miller, 

 of Markham, Canada, brought over thirty head, and these 

 were shown at the Provincial Fair. In Quebec Province, 

 A. H. Torrance, of Montreal, and J. L. Gibb Comptom had 

 good flocks, from which they sold into Maine, Massa- 

 chusetts and Vermont. Beginning about 1870, with the 

 decreasing popularity of Merinos, the Cotswold ex- 

 perienced an increasing demand, and many flocks were 

 established, especially in central United States. 



441 . Description. The Cotswold is a large, high-stand- 

 ing sheep, with heavy fleece of long, white, lustrous wool. 

 A mature ram should weigh 250 pounds or more, and a 

 mature ewe 200 pounds at least. An ample topknot, 

 often covering the eyes, is one of the distinguishing charac- 

 teristics of the breed. It is uniform in type, with bold, 

 upright carriage, broad back, and shows a fair leg of 

 mutton. (Plate XIII.) It is a superior feeder, specially 

 well adapted to good pasture land, and fairly prolific. 



