314 THE SHEEP OP GREAT BRITAIN. 



alliance could be most profitably conducted; for, in another 

 place, Vancouver remarks that the cross " is much approved 

 through Buckland, Filleigh, and Peterockstow, particularly if 

 carried to the fourth degree, or, in other words, four parts 

 Leicester to one part native Nott." 



Mr. Andrew Hosegood some years since bore testimony that 

 when a boy he recollected the Bampton sheep as having grey 

 faces, " they were very hardy and excellent for weight of mutton 

 and wool," adding : " We have since crossed these very con- 

 siderably with the Leicesters ; by which means we obtain sheep 

 that fatten quicker, but do not obtain so much weight." 

 Another old-established breeder has left it on record that about 

 half a century ago the blue tint in the face got to be preferred, 

 and became in consequence rather general ; until experience 

 proved that animals bearing this characteristic were thinner in 

 both flesh and wool, weaker in constitution, and less hardy. 

 During the past ten or fifteen years white faces in consequence 

 have become not only less objectionable, but generally sought 

 after. 



Tanner's prize report on the farming of Devon, published 

 in 1848, refers only very cursorily to sheep ; but it is distinctly 

 stated therein that the kind most generally kept in the county 

 was the Bampton and its crosses, which he found to be more or 

 less partaking of the Leicester type as the farms were well- 

 sheltered and of high fertility. Wilson, treating on the various 

 breeds of sheep in the " Eoyal Agricultural Society's Journal," 

 for 1855, says of the Bampton variety, '*Like most of the old 

 indigenous breeds of the county, it has gradually been dis- 

 placed by the improved breeds ; and now it is very difficult to 

 find the pure Bampton unmixed with other blood, a few only 

 remaining in Devonshire and West Somerset. They are 

 usually met with crossed with the Leicester breed, and very 

 much resembling them in shape, though somewhat larger in 

 size, and hardly so fine in general character. They are with- 

 out horns, and with clean faces and legs ; they are hardy, but 

 require good pasture. At two years old, if well kept, they 

 average 1201b to 1501b. each. The meat is juicy, but like that 

 of all large sheep, inferior in quality to the smaller breeds. 

 The wool produce is good ; the fleece, averaging 71b., is 



