( 389 ) 



THE IRISH SHEEP, 



As we are informed by Mr. Culley, who saw, at 

 the great fair of Ballinasloe, as many as 95,000, are, 

 in general, so ill-formed and ugly, that the worst 

 of the breeds in Great Britain are much superior to 

 them. They are of great size, and supported by 

 long, thick, crooked, grey legs. Their head is long 

 and ugly, with large flagging ears, grey faces, and 

 sunk eyes. The neck is long, and set on below the 

 shoulders. The breast narrow, short, and hollow 

 before and behind the shoulders. The animals 

 are flat-sided, with narrow herring-backs; their 

 hind quarters droop, and the tail is set low. In 

 short, they seem, in almost every respect, to be 

 the very reverse to what well-formed Sheep should 

 be. By the exertions, however, of Mr. French, 

 and a few other spirited breeders, who, at great 

 expence and hazard, have imported Rams from 

 England, great improvements in the Irish Sheep 

 have lately taken place. And, from the emulation 

 which has been excited by their success, it is to be 

 hoped that the original breed will soon be entirely 

 extirpated. 



DdS 



