THE BLACK-FACED OR SCOTCH MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 37^ 



very bad winters whicli have marked the decade from 1866 to 

 1876, has been in manj instances to reinstate the black-faces in 

 the homes from whence they had for a time been expelled to the 

 Cheviots. 



Not the least formidable obstacles in the way of improvement 

 among the mountain sheep were the promiscuous pasturing of 

 the smaller flocks on common runs, the too frequent neglect of 

 proper castration, and of preserving the best specimens only to 

 breed from on the male side. "Commonties" gradually dis- 

 appeared, more careful treatment was extended to the pastures 

 as well as to the sheep, and for the last quarter of a century no 

 department of Scotch agriculture has been better attended to 

 than the selection of first-class tups by breeders from the best 

 stocks. Even the owner of a mixed stock of two or three score 

 has for a considerable number of years endeavoured, with success 

 generally, to secure a well-bred tup. The Scotch mountain 

 sheep are the most migratory of the race. After grazing in com- 

 parative solitude in the corries for some time they become wild, 

 especially those specimens displaying closer affinity to the ancient 

 native breed. Their pedestrian powers are great ; in fact, we 

 have frequently seen wethers so wi and agile that a common 

 shepherd's dog could not get abreast of them in a race — could 

 not even give them a " turn." 



The black-faces are very lively, instinctive animals, and 

 become much attached to certain parts of the pasture. The 

 breeding stocks, or individual animals composing them, have 

 choice portions of the runs or glens, where some of them graze 

 night and day during summer, and others, after passing the 

 day in the lower grounds, hie towards their favourite quarters 

 as evening approaches. Partly owing to the often scanty nature 

 of their pastures, the mountain sheep occupy more time feeding 

 than almost auy other animal. It is astonishing how punctual 

 to time these sheep will start from the lodging quarters for the 

 lower pastures, and vice versa, day after day. Shepherds have 

 observed that any deviation from the ordinary hour of departure 

 for or from the sleeping ground is ominous of the character of 

 the weather for the next few days. As a rule, if the animals are 

 latg in " drawing towards " the higher ground or unusually early 

 to leave it, bad weather may be expected (unless, of course, there 



