s n E E F. 



sheep do not Treigh above sixty or seventy pounds 

 per quarter. 



The Shetland sheep are generally without horns, 

 and handsome, although very small. When fed, they 

 do not weigh more than eight or ten pounds per quar- 

 ter. This breed of sheep is exceedingly hardy, and 

 consequently well adapted to the severe climate where 

 it is found ; Out what renders them an object of im- 

 portance is, that their wool is esteemed -by good 

 judges to be equal in fineness to t hat, <.-f Thibet, of 

 which the Indian shawls are made. These sheep have 

 a kind of long hair intermixed among the 'wool, a 

 singular instance of the providence of the All-wise 

 Creator, in considering the wants of this animal in so 

 cold a climate ; for as they are never shorn, the wool 

 is pulled oft once a year, and the hair remaining, pre- 

 serves the creature from the piercing winds of that 

 northern region. 



The breed of English sheep has, by the perseve- 

 ring attention of Mr. Bakeweil, ofDishley, in Leices- 

 tershire, been exceedingly improved ; and his exam- 

 ple has been successfully followed by many eminent 

 breeders. The improved Leicestershire breed is now 

 in the greatest esteem in most parts of the kingdom* 

 and almost all the principal breeders endeavour to in- 

 troduce some mixture of it into their stock. Its su- 

 perior qualities are principally those of fattening 

 quickly, and carrying the greatest weight of mutton 

 upon the smallest portion of bone. 



From these circumstances, my clear Sir, you will 

 readily conceive the beneticial etiects of those im-, 

 pnivements which have been made in our sheep, as 

 well as our hordes, and horned cattle, dad consider the 

 importance of that respectable bcsly of men, the 

 English farmers, to whose spirited exertkms, and skil- 

 ful management, this country owes, under Lhvine Pro- 

 violence, the number and excellence of those flocks 

 and herds, which range over our hills, enliven our 

 plains, and constitute an inexhaustible source of plenty 

 and of wealth. 



THE TARTARIAN SHEEP. 



Tartary produces a breed of sheep somewhat larger 



