ASIATIC AND AFRICAN BREEDS. 53 



gcous, has in some instances been otherwise, the latter being 

 somewhat hardier, and more capable of subsisting on healthy 

 pasturage. They are, however, a hardy race, well suited for 

 their native pastures, bearing with comparative impunity the 

 storms of winter, and thriving well on poor keep. Though 

 less hardy than the black-faced sheep of Scotland, they are 

 more profitable as respects their feeding, making more flesh 

 on an equal quantity of food, and making it quicker. They 

 have white faces and legs, open countenances, lively eyes, 

 without horns. The ears are large, and somewhat singular, 

 and there is much space between the ears and eyes. The 

 carcass is long ; the back straight ; the shoulders rather light ; 

 the ribs circular ; and the quarters good. The legs are small 

 in the bone and covered with wool, as well as the body, with 

 the exception of the face. The Cheviot wether is fit for the 

 butcher at three years old, and averages from 12 Ibs. to 18 Ibs. 

 per quarter the mutton being of a good quality, though 

 inferior to the South Down, and of less flavor than the black- 

 faced. * * * The Cheviot, though a mountain breed, is 

 quiet and docile, and easily managed. The wool is fine,* 

 closely covers the body, assisting much in preserving it from 

 the effects of wet and cold; the fleece averaging about 3J Ibs. 

 Formerly the wool was extensively employed for making 

 cloths, but having given place to the finer Saxony wool, it has 

 sunk in price, and been confined to combing purposes. It has 

 thus become altogether a secondary consideration." 



FAT- HUMPED, BROAD -TAILED, PERSIAN AND CHINESE 

 SHEEP. All of these breeds of sheep have been introduced 

 into the United States from Asia and Africa, but as a 

 general thing perhaps rather for the indulgence of curiosity 

 than from any expectation of establishing valuable flocks 

 from them. A variety of the Broad -Tailed sheep, however, 

 sent home by Commodore Porter from Smyrna, was bred 

 for a considerable period in the United States, and kept 

 pure in South Carolina.f A family of them, termed the 

 "Tunisian Mountain Sheep," were received "in a national 

 ship" by Col. Pickering, who caused them to be distributed 

 in Pennsylvania ; they were bred there for some time, and 

 were very highly commended by Mr. John Hare Powell, j A 



* Mr. Spooner undoubtedly employs this term relatively, meaning fine for a 

 middle -wooled sheep. 



1 1 received this information from Hon. R. F. W. Allston, late Governor of that State. 

 $ See his Letter on Various Breeds of Sheep, 1826, in Memoirs of N. Y. Board of 



