FOURTEEN-RIBBED HERDWICK 559 



sheep generally go with the farm and belong to the land- 

 owner, who receives 5 per cent, on the value of the sheep 

 as additional rent The number of sheep which each tenant 

 was permitted to run on the fell was restricted at one time 

 to the number the rented enclosed land was capable of 

 wintering, but the regulation is now relaxed. 



On Gaitscale or Crinkle Crags, belonging to Black .Hall 

 farm, at the head of Duddon Valley, Ulpha, Cumberland, 

 near Broughton-in-Furness, Herdwick ewes are from time 

 to time found with fourteen ribs on each side, or fourteen 

 on one side and thirteen on the other. The peculiarity is 



FIG. 41. SKELETON OF THE THORAX OF A HERDWICK SHEEP, showing an 

 additional (i4th) floating ventral rib. 



(Drawn from the photo of a preparation made in the Anatomical Department of Edinburgh 

 University, under the direction of Prof. Cunningham.) 



becoming less frequent under the influence of imported 

 rams from a distance which possess the normal number 

 of thirteen ribs on each side. 



There are some unique customs in the management of 

 this breed which are not commonly met with among other 

 breeds of sheep, such as smearing the teats of the ewes with 

 plasters of pitch when it is desired to prevent the lamb 

 sucking ; and painting the wool of show sheep and the rams 

 a bright red colour, so that the shepherd is enabled to dis- 

 tinguish the latter in uneven hilly ground, even three miles 

 away, by the aid of a field-glass. 



The Welsh Mountain Sheep. 1 This breed has existed 

 on the Welsh hills, it may be said, from time immemorial. 



1 The Author is indebted for much of the following information to 

 Owen Price, of Naubyrham, Cray, Brecon, and Professor Gilchrist. 



