THE WENSLEYDALE 579 



The sheep of Upper Wensleydale, two hundred and 

 twenty-five years ago were the Blackface horned breed, and in 

 Lower Wensleydale the Whiteface horned breed, of the moun- 

 tains of the North-West of England, and to this day, in some 

 places, the modern representatives of these breeds are known 

 locally as Wensleydales. The last of the Whiteface horned 

 sheep disappeared from Wensleydale about one hundred 

 years ago, and all the available evidence indicates that they 

 were replaced by a branch of the improved Teeswater breed. 

 The original breed was, according to Youatt, " probably from 

 the same stock as the old Lincolnshires, a tall, clumsy animal, 

 polled, and with white face and legs, but with characteristic 

 black spots on the face and ears" ; of slow maturity; yielding 

 a very heavy carcase of fine-grained meat. The wool was 

 "remarkably long and coarse, but thinly set on the skin," 

 and the "ewes were exceedingly prolific." The breed was 

 "among the first to experience the beneficial effects of a 

 cross with the Dishley sheep a somewhat kindred breed, 

 but possessing very good points in which the others were 

 manifestly deficient." The cross resulted in " very con- 

 siderable diminution of size ; the carcase was rounder and 

 more compact," and came to maturity earlier. "The Leicester 

 mutton was not so delicately flavoured as the Teeswater," 

 and yet the result of the cross was, "that the flesh of the 

 Teeswater was evidently improved. The staple of the 

 fleece was shortened, but the wool was finer and closer," 

 and a greater amount was produced. 



It is believed that the improved variety, under the name 

 of " Mugs," began to be introduced over one hundred and 

 thirty years ago, and Wensleydale became in due time 

 the chief home of the breed, which, like many other old- 

 fashioned forms of Long-wool sheep, was driven out of 

 its original habitat by the more-rapid-maturity improved 

 Leicester. 



An officially acknowledged description of the Mugs 

 before 1840 has been given on the authority of "an old 

 breeder " as follows : " They were of large size, standing 

 high on the leg, of a good length, and with particularly 

 good strong loins and legs of mutton. Their great defect 

 was behind the shoulder, and a want of thickness through 

 the heart, while their necks were long and weak. The 



