THE BREEDS OF SHEEP 89 



long and a year's growth weighs 6 or 7 pounds. The fiber 

 inclines to be coarser than that of the Shropshire, American 

 breeders using the latter for a standard. 



Cheviots are very hardy, and in their native home on the 

 mountains rely altogether on grass the entire year. They 

 are active and independent, and do not flock as do other 

 breeds. For this reason the breed has never been suited to 

 the range country. The quality of Cheviot mutton is very 

 superior, having very fine grain, and lacking surplus fat. 

 In mutton carcass contests in the English and Scotch shows, 

 the Cheviot has always held a high place. It is not widely 

 distributed outside of its native home, though found in the 

 United States in New York, Ohio, Indiana, and in other 

 states of the Middle West. 



The Suffolk sheep comes from the county after which it 

 is named, in southeastern England. It belongs to the 

 medium-wool class, and is chiefly a mutton breed. The head, 

 ears, and legs of the Suffolk are distinctly black in color. 

 This gives a group of these sheep a very striking appearance. 

 Mature rams weigh about 250 pounds and the ewes 175 

 pounds. The fleece is not heavy. Suffolks are not exten- 

 sively bred in England, and but few of them are to be found 

 in America. In fact, they are very rare here, and are not 

 often seen at our sheep shows, neither have they been much 

 advertised in America. 



The Tunis sheep takes its name from Tunis, in northern 

 Africa, where it is supposed to have originated. In 1799, 

 General Eaton, United States Consul at Tunis, received a 

 gift of a number of these sheep, two of which survived a 

 voyage to America. Other importations followed this one 

 of General Eaton. These early importations were kept in 

 the Eastern and Southern states, and little was done to 

 improve them. They are peculiar in having a large, fat 



