CHEVIOT SHEEP. 389 



were Bake well's Leicesters, when in a state of transition, and 

 before coming to the perfect type which they subsequently 

 attained. This is borne out by the fact that twenty years 

 afterwards, Mr. Robson found them too tender for his 

 purpose — perhaps they were then also too expensive for his 

 purse. 



Mr. Eobson's flock proved the nucleus from which Cheviot 

 breeders drew their supply of rams for many years. His mode 

 of selling is said to have been somewhat unique. A ticket was 

 attached to each sheep with the price put on him, so that cus- 

 tomers could choose according to their taste and means. The 

 impetus given to the breeding of Cheviots was immense ; they 

 rapidly found their way into other districts of Scotland and the 

 north of England, supplanting the black-faced breed, which, 

 like the aborigines in India and America, may be said to retire 

 before the advancing wave of civilisation. Let it not be sup- 

 posed, however, that we disparage the black-faced breed of sheep. 

 For hardihood and beauty they are unsurpassed, and still yield 

 a profitable return in regions where Cheviots could not live. Our 

 earliest associations in sheep farming are connected with them ; 

 and we well remember a severe snowstorm in Lammermoor, late 

 in April of 1827, when the Cheviot ewes, losing the instinct of 

 maternal affection, left their newly-dropped lambs to perish in 

 scores, while the black-faced stuck closely to theirs, and the loss 

 in them was trifling. Our memory still clings to their black and 

 mottled faces, bright eyes, and beautifully arched horns, with 

 all the freshness of a first love. 



Early in the present century the Cheviot sheep were largely 

 introduced into the northern counties of Scotland, chiefly by 

 fa^rmers of large capital on the Borders. Numbers of small 

 crofters were turned out of their holdings, which were changed 

 into extensive sheep walks. There can be no doubt that this 

 movement, although unpopular at the time, was the means of 

 increasing production, and proved in every case of judicious 

 management a most profitable investment. 



In later times the condition of Cheviot flocks has been greatly 

 ameliorated by draining, shelter, providing a plentiful supply of 

 food for use in stormy weather, and other modern improvements. 

 Mr. Aitchison, of Lynhope, may be said to have been the pioneer 



