560 SHEEP MOUNTAIN AND MOORLAND 



On the highest hills the original breed still exists in its 

 pristine purity of blood, though " owing to the superior 

 quality of the pasturage on the eastern slope of the Berwyn, 

 Merioneth Hills, and Plynlimmon, over that on the western 

 slope, the sheep are there of a larger and better type, 

 and possess much finer wool." In the lowlands, including 

 the richest pastures of the country, the breed has been 

 increased in size and modified to some extent (though 

 the general characteristics have been well maintained) by 

 crossing with various larger early maturity breeds. The 

 improvement of the breed has been restricted by the fact 

 that much of the mountain land is common pasture, where 

 it is impossible to secure united action on the part of the 

 various owners of stock. Many of the larger "sheepwalks" 

 are unenclosed, and owing to the tendency of bought-on 

 Welsh sheep to stray and to die before becoming accus- 

 tomed to the ground, an extra price of 55. to 8s. above the 

 market value is freely given by an incoming occupant for 

 the sheep bred on the land. This is in the same direction, 

 but does not go so far, as the custom in the Highlands of 

 Scotland referred to at page 536. 



The crossing of a mountain breed of sheep with an 

 improved early-maturity breed, which invariably possesses 

 a less hardy constitution on that account, can only be 

 regarded as an improvement when it is possible to place 

 the mountain sheep in a position in which it will be in- 

 dependent of severe weather and scarcity of food, which, 

 by the application of Darwin's law of the survival of the 

 fittest, exercises an immense influence in forming the char- 

 acter of a mountain sheep. 



The characteristics of the pure breed are, a yellow face 

 and legs, short fine wool, and usually a narrow body 

 descending towards the shoulder. The rams possess 

 gracefully curved horns, while the ewes are generally horn- 

 less. The breed is noted for hardiness and for an activity 

 which renders it difficult to fence in those which are taken 

 down to the lowlands to feed. The mutton in the London 

 market is regarded as of the finest quality, and classed with 

 Scotch mountain mutton and that of the Southdown. 



The dead-weight of the real pure-bred Welsh sheep 

 does not exceed 28 to 32 Ibs., but specimens, the "improved" 



