388 THE SHEEP OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



cross his flock of Cheviots. The sheep he considered most 

 suitahle were of a breed then existing in Lincolnshire, 

 of which he purchased several rams to put to selected ewes 

 The cross answered admirably, greatly improving the flock in 

 every respect, without materially lessening its hardy character. 

 Mr. Eobson then occupied several high and stormy farms on the 

 Border, and the crossed breed throve well upon them. Twenty 

 years afterwards he made a second visit to Lincolnshire to obtain 

 another infusion of the same blood, but found the breed had 

 become so much larger and less hardy that he declined to ven- 

 ture on them. The theory of Mr. Aitchison, of Lynhope, a high 

 authority in Cheviots, as well as other eminent breeders, is that 

 the breed Mr. Kobson imported were Bake well's Leicesters, 

 with which he crossed a few select Cheviot ewes, and that the 

 offspring of this cross were sent to the hills to cover his exten- 

 sive flocks. The great resemblance between the two breeds 

 raises a strong presumption in favour of this hypothesis ; but^ 

 on the other hand, the tenderness of the Leicesters makes it very 

 improbable that such a cross could stand the winters of so stormy 

 a climate. We have besides, in later times, been cognisant of 

 instances where a slight dash of the Leicester blood was intro- 

 duced, and proved detrimental to the hardihood of the breed, and 

 experimenters were generally fain to retrace their steps. Of the 

 two assertions, therefore, we incline to that of Mr. Eobson Scott, 

 more especially as it is not merely derived from tradition, but, 

 as he solemnly affirms, from an oral statement he had from his 

 grandfather. Under any circumstances, Mr. Robson stands con- 

 fessed the great improver of the breed, although, like Bakewell 

 in Leicesters, the means he used are involved in some obscurity. 

 This early cross gave a correctness of form and symmetry that 

 has never yet been surpassed ; greater bone has no doubt been 

 introduced in the present day, but, in the opinion of many 

 Cheviot breeders, to an unprofitable extent, as greater bone often 

 implies reduced numbers. During the years that have inter- 

 vened since the above was written, we have had additional light 

 on this disputed point. A grandson of Mr. Eobson's shepherd, 

 when the said cross was introduced, assured me on his grand- 

 father's authority, that the sheep were really purchased from 

 Bakewell. We have now come to the conclusion that the sheep 



