88 BEGINNINGS IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 



feet above the sea. Grass is the universal crop, and here 

 this breed of sheep has been raised for long beyond a cen- 

 tury, and gradually improved during the passing years. 

 Today the Cheviot is a medium-wool, fair-sized sheep, the 

 rams weighing around 200 pounds at maturity, and the 

 ewes 150 pounds. This is one of our most beautiful breeds. 

 The head is entirely free of wool, and the face and ears are 

 covered with white hair, with black specks occasionally 



Fig. 49. Cheviot rams on pasture in Scotland. Owned by John Elliott. 

 Photograph by the author. 



occurring. The nostrils are black, the nose tends to be a bit 

 Roman, the eye is large and prominent, and the erect ear 

 is usually pricked up as though listening. The Cheviot 

 inclines to be somewhat narrow of back, with a moderate 

 depth of body and fair leg of mutton, though in recent years 

 it has been much improved. The fleece covers the body to 

 the back of the ears and down to the knees and hocks, the 

 rest of the leg being covered with white hair. The fleece 

 tends to be somewhat open and is usually about 3J/ inches 



