SHETLAND $HEEP 523 



per Ib. By the cross with the Dutch, which used to be the 

 prevailing one, the carcase is heavier, the wool coarser, the 

 fleece weighing 4 Ibs. or more, but not worth one-fourth so 

 much per Ib. The tail is about 6 ins. long, and shaped like 

 a flounder, whence arose their name, the 'flounder-tailed' 

 sheep. [Although many different alien crosses have been 

 made, the wild habits of the sheep and the soft nature of the 

 foreign blood have probably prevented much outside blood 

 from establishing itself in the so-called improved variety.] 

 In both breeds the wool is mixed with hairs resembling those 

 of the ruminants of almost every cold climate. The process of 

 shedding the coat is not uncommon in all other animals in 

 cold countries. The wool begins to loosen at the roots 

 towards the close of the winter, and gradually rises through 

 and separates from the hair, and would be eventually detached 

 and lost ; but, towards the end of March or the beginning of 

 April, the Shetlander collects all his sheep in 'punds' and 

 'crues, 5 in order to pull the wool, which is done with little 

 inconvenience, and no pain to the sheep. The common 

 operation of shearing is out of the question. The wool 

 contains many hairs which require to be dressed out. The 

 animal is still covered by a thick coat of hair, which forms 

 a sufficient defence against the cold of the early spring 

 months. When the wool has attained the length of 3 ins., 

 the hair in turn drops off; but this is a slower process, 

 regulated by the growth of the new hair. On the approach 

 of winter a perfect double coat of wool and of hair is again 

 formed." 



This relationship of wool and hair in the most perfect coat 

 for resisting the inclemency of the weather, is a key to the 

 appearance of "kemp" or dead hairs in the coats more 

 particularly of mountain sheep. 



Darwin, quoting from The Quadrupeds of N. America, 

 refers to it in the case of the wild mountain sheep, O. 

 montana, thus : " The wool begins to drop out in the early 

 spring, leaving in its place a coat of hair resembling that of 

 the elk." 



The late Z. M. Hamilton wrote, in October 1905 : 

 " Youatt's description does not quite hold good for the 

 Shetland sheep of the present day, as the only two islands 

 on which they are really pure are Foula and Papa Stour. 



