OF THE COUNTY OF DOWN. 205 



tains, on which they are lambed, but where they do not 

 continue for the firft winter, as the climate is too fe- 

 vere for them at that early period ; accordingly, their 

 owners take grafs for them, or rather running, in the 

 low grounds, where they are fent on the approach of 

 winter, and from whence they return about the fourth 

 week in March. The ufual price of their winter run is 

 one (hilling each. Whatever is the origin of this breed, 

 ' there are many of them very well made in dl points, 

 and finely woolled ; and when brought down to the 

 lower grounds, and fufficiently tamed,- they take fat 

 very well, efpecially during the fummer and autumn ; 

 but from their native wildnefs it is difficult to make 

 them feed, except on grafs ; yet by care they will be- 

 come manageable ; and the beft way to accomplifti this 

 is, by* having a few tame fheep mixed with them, 

 either of another kind, or fome of the fame fpecies that 

 have been domefticated. This breed is much prized 

 for the delicacy of its mutton, and is to be had at all 

 the fairs of Cafllewellan, Dundrum, Rofstrevor, &c. 

 in the neighbourhood of the mountains. The wethers, 

 'three and four years old, weigh from ten to fourteen 

 pounds per quarter ; the ewes fomewhat lefs : their 

 fleeces, from two and a half pound to near double that 

 weight. Many of them are even lefs than the weight 

 I mention, not exceeding feven or eight pounds per 

 quarter. A judge of fheep might pick up amongft 

 hefe mountaineers bqch males and females of uncom- 

 mon 



