OHAPTEE XXI 



CHEVIOT SHEEP. 



By JOliJS USHER, Stodiuo, Kelso. 



ITF. OTTEVTOTR n. rimj-v <.r liills in 11,.. l,„nl..r conn- 

 li.'s (>r lOii^^IiMid ;iii(l S.-otlaiKl mi-c hclicvcd to iiavo 



^nvouloilir early Lived of Cheviot sheep "a local habi- 



lalioii and a, name." 'I'liey seeiu lo liave boon a native 

 breed, all Immi;' li a Ic-.vikI sldl i;aiiis credeiiee, es|.eeia,Uy among 

 wlieplierds, I ha I I lie lirsl of I luaii were iiii|i(>ited into | In- country 

 by Mie S|>aiiisli Armada., Iia-viii;;- swiiiii lo land rroiii some of (lie 

 Hlli|>\vreeKe(l vessels ol" I liai illd'ated expedilioii lli.il were drill, mI 

 on llie W'eslerii Isles. 'Vlwy are v;e!ierally des.aabed as smaJl 

 sheep, \d-\ I'edil in hone and wool, willi brownish heads and 

 l(^^s, !ind hardy e(mstihilioii ; Mieir scrai^v^v Iranies beariii"; m-vv 

 lil,i,le resemblanee lo Ih.- well-|n-o|.orlioned (dicviols oT Mic 

 preseiil (lay. Ncvortlielcss, I'roiii Iheir a<la|.lalioii (o (he soil a.iid 

 elimale, I hey appear to have Kpread over a -avai |)a.r(, oj' (Jie 



<'leva(ed lands In (lie soutli of IScotlaiid loiig bofore an attempt 

 was made (<» iiii[»rove (Ju^in. 

 'Vhe earliest recorded attempt at improvement was about a 



liuiub'iMl years ai'O. and was einiiuMitly sncccsHful. Themeritof 

 this is nniversally aecordeil (<> Mr. Ivobson, of Hclford, althoupfh 



(Mieviol bre.'d,.rs oT III.' i.ivs.'iil .lay .lilT.-r mai.'rially iw.ardin^^ 

 Ml.- <r..ss h.' iiia.h- iis.-oT. We ha v.- il Troin Mr. i;,.>bs.>ii S.-oll,— 

 a, -a-an.ls..ii .d" 1\I r. b*,.)bson Mial h.' (rav.'ll.'.l <»ver ( h.' -ivaior 

 pari/ ol' l*]n;4la,iul for the jmrpose of s.'eiiii;- various bre.'dH of 

 sheop ill dilfe rent diatriclB, with Uic view ul' selecliii}^ rams to 



c 2 



