THE BREEDS OF SHEEP 91 



wool not growing beyond the back of the head. The ears 

 are large but thin, and are usually carried in an erect posi- 

 tion. The nostrils are black, the nose is somewhat promi- 

 nent, and the eye bold and attractive. The Leicester has a 

 full, wide breast; broad, flat back; wide rump; and fair leg 

 of mutton. The body form is broad rather than deep, and 

 sometimes these sheep appear long of leg. They fatten 

 rapidly, and the rams at maturity weigh around 250 pounds, 

 and the ewes 175 pounds or more. As mutton producers, 

 they are not popular because they lay on too much fat. 

 They require good pastures, and are not the hardiest sheep in 

 the world. This, with their size, accounts for there being so 

 few of them today either in America or elsewhere. The 

 Leicester is the smallest of the long-wool breeds, and has 

 a curly fleece that does not shear very heavily, 7 to 9 pounds 

 being about a year's growth. Once a popular breed, this is 

 now the least known in America of all the so-called common 

 breeds of sheep. In northern England, in the border coun- 

 try, is an improved form or family known as the Border 

 Leicester, which is the more common type today. This 

 family has a more vigorous constitution and has a clear white 

 face, while the old breed has a bluish tint to the skin. 



The Cotswold sheep gets its name from the fact that in 

 early times in England these sheep were sheltered in what 

 were called "Cots," and were pastured on the treeless hills 

 known as "Wolds." That was in southwest England, 

 where this breed has been kept for centuries. It is written 

 that in 1464 King Edward IV gave permission to transport 

 some Cotswold sheep to Spain. About 100 years or more 

 ago, Cotswold and Leicester flocks were mixed a great deal 

 in blood, by which it is said the former was improved. These 

 sheep were brought to America as early as 1832, and at one 

 time were very popular, especially in the states east of 



