384 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 



Macdonald says that in the beginning of the last century 

 a ship was stranded on the coast of Cumberland that 

 had on board some Scotch sheep, which seem to have 

 been unknown in that country. The sheep were landed 

 and turned on the neighboring hills. Their excellent 

 qualities and adaptation to their new situation became 

 speedily evident. Their fleece was considerably finer 

 than that of the common black sheep, and the matted 

 quality of the wool enabled them to endure any severity 

 of weather, and even to pass the whole of the winter with- 

 out the smallest quantity of hay being expended upon 

 them. By their ceaseless activity they scraped away the 

 snow, however deeply the herbage might be buried under 

 it. 



These sheep are credited with living to a very old age, 

 Macdonald stating that the ewes will breed for fifteen or 

 twenty years. 



In the English Lake country, the mountains of Cumber- 

 land and Westmoreland, in the north of England, these 

 small sheep hold their own against the encroachments of 

 all other breeds. 



474. Persiacot and Persiarino sheep. By E, L. 

 Shaw. The Persiacot is a cross between the Persian and 

 the Cotswold breeds. This cross-breed is said to be very 

 hardy, and produces an excellent quality of mutton. The 

 lambs make very rapid gains, and are in demand at good 

 prices. The Persiarino is a cross between the Persian 

 and the Merino breeds. This cross-breed is said to pro- 

 duce a very hardy sheep and an excellent quality of 

 mutton. All grades of these crosses are said to be fertile. 

 The Persian resembles the Tunis, has a fat tail, and 

 dark, hair-like wool. It has been used in a small way 

 in the West for crossing. 



