THE BORDER LEICESTER 577 



pure-bred sheep is not of first-rate quality, being somewhat 

 coarse in the grain and tallowy in the fat, but it is not so 

 much a mutton-manufacturing as a ram-producing breed, and 

 the mutton from the progeny of the rams mated with all 

 varieties of mountain ewes, is an early maturity product. 



Special Points. 



(i.) The head well carried, long, broad between the eyes 

 but not high on the crown, nor too heavy behind the ears ; 

 the two latter characteristics in the male involving difficulty 

 in lambing in this as well as in other breeds : 



(2.) The profile slightly aquiline, tapering to the muzzle : 



(3.) The muzzle large, open, and black, with wide 

 nostrils : 



(4.) The hair on the face and legs uniformly white and 

 hard (but not so wiry as in the case of the Cheviot), and ex- 

 tending well back behind the ears, free from any trace of wool : 



(5.) The ears not too large nor drooping, and white inside 

 and out ; black spots appear sometimes with age : 



(6.) The ribs well sprung in a fine circular arch more 

 noted for width than depth, and " carrying the mutton high " : 



(7.) The belly light, said to " carry little offal," and giving 

 a leggy or high-standing appearance when the animal is shorn : 



(8.) The wool long, soft, and in little locks or pirls, but not 

 too open : especially on the ribs, it should fill the hand 



(9.) Fat tegs, at twelve to fourteen months old, weigh 23 

 Ibs. to 25 Ibs. per quarter, but many are fed off at an earlier 

 date at lighter weights to suit the market. 



Brief Calendar of events in a Border Leicester flock : 



January \st. Ewes begin to get a little better treatment 

 either a little concentrated food in boxes, or a limited quantity 

 of swedes. 



February ist. Ewes begin to lamb. 



April. Pedigree Border Leicester lambs are tattooed on 

 the bare skin, inside the ear, with flock marks, and Border 

 Leicester hoggs are clipped. 



June ist. Border Leicester ewes are clipped. 



July ist. Border Leicester lambs may be speaned or 

 weaned at any time in July the sooner the better on suitable 

 pasture. 



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