548 SHEEP MOUNTAIN AND MOORLAND 



When sheep get caught in a place surrounded by snow- 

 wreaths, a passage has to be made for them to travel in by 

 treading. A circle is made a better shelter for all weathers 

 when 6 or 8 yards of wall project outwards on at least two 

 opposite sides. Such wings also act as " wears " or guides to 

 the sheep when entering the " lunky " or hole in the wall 

 large enough to admit one at a time. Although it be left 

 open, sheep rarely enter a round except during a snowstorm. 

 " Black weather " stells of various forms are needed at 

 other periods of the year for the protection of the flocks during 

 rough weather, and should be erected on the more elevated 

 parts of the farm. For newly-shorn sheep and lambing ewes, 

 artificial " bields " are specially required. Near the brow of 

 a hill, or where the sheep find resting-places and some degree 

 of natural shelter, is generally the proper position in which 

 to erect breakwinds. A small round with two or three pro- 

 jecting wings is as good a shape as any for shelter ; and as an 

 enclosure to accommodate a ewe needing special attention, it 

 is also a great convenience in the lambing season. Other 

 stells may consist of a few roods of stone dyke in the form of 

 a crescent ; the three legs seen on a Manx coin, diverging 

 from a common centre ; or a capital T turned with the top 



downhill. 



t 



The Lonk sheep is a native of North Lancashire, the West 

 Riding of Yorkshire, and some of the Derbyshire moorlands, 

 which grow strong, coarse, tufty herbage called " lonk " famous 

 for grouse and sheep's fescue. The district round Clitheroe 

 and Skipton is one of its strongholds. It resembles the 

 Scotch Blackface, but is leggier, with a larger, longer body 

 and a bigger head (a longer and narrower face, with a deep 

 jaw and Roman nose), a longer and rougher tail, and in the 

 ewe stronger horns. The horns of the ram coil more quickly 

 and come out a little further back, and the back edge stands 

 up higher than that of the Blackface. The wool comes close 

 up to the back of the horn. The black and the white of the 

 face and legs are distinct and clear. Brown is objectionable. 

 The face and legs should be free from wool, except a small 

 tuft on the forehead and a little fringe on the hind leg. In 

 constitution it is not so hardy as the Scotch sheep, but it has a 

 much closer, finer, and probably a little heavier fleece, which 



