LEICESTER SHEEP. 287 



Yorkshire is divided between Leicesters pure and a cross witli 

 the Lincoln, which gives size and wool. On the moors a very 

 useful class of sheep, known as Mug Leicesters, hardy, long- 

 legged, and well adapted to run with the black-faced ewes on 

 the moors, are kept ; the produce, known as Masham lambs, are 

 much liked on poor land in Yorkshire and the midland counties, 

 and they exist upon bare pasture, and can be made fat the next 

 summer after yielding a fair fleece of 51b. to 71b. 



It would be difficult to say upon what breed the influence of 

 Leicester quality has not been felt. How much of their present 

 popularity do the Lincolns owe to it ? It is commonly believed 

 that the Shropshires acquired much of their aptitude to feed 

 from a Leicester cross introduced by Mr. Meire ; and possibly 

 even the Southdowns are not clear of a strain. With both them 

 and the Hampshires, the cross produces very muttony sheep, 

 though it does not answer to prolong it. In the south-western 

 counties, more especially Devonshire and Cornwall, Leicesters 

 have long been the dominant sheep. We have several breeders 

 of note, and a large infusion of the blood introduced into the 

 original breeds. Go where it might, the result was always the 

 same — a great increase of fattening properties, and early develop- 

 ment. If we look at the Leicesters in their own country, we 

 shall find them of moderate size, fine in bone, cutting a fair but 

 not extraordinary fleece, averaging 71b. to 81b. round. 



With regard to the principal points or characteristics, the 

 form of a parallelogram on four legs is often adduced as the 

 best definition of a correct outline in the sheep. This, however, 

 does not apply to the Leicester, and would be scouted by 

 breeders who desire the ovate form, and point to the partridge 

 as the perfection of shape. The fore-quarter of the Leicester is 

 remarkably well developed ; the shoulders are wide and sloping, 

 consequently there is no rigidness along the back ; the bosom is 

 deep and wide, and the fore flank very full. The animal stands 

 close to the ground ; the neck is short, so that the head is raised 

 but little above the line of the back, and it is fairly muscular. 

 In Youatt's language, " The neck full and broad at the base 

 where it proceeds from the chest, but gradually tapering 

 towards and being particularly fine at the junction of the head 

 and neck ; the neck seeming to project straight from the chest, 



