72 



BRITISH BREEDS OF SHEEP. 



The British breeds of sheep are classified in various ^vays 

 horned and hornless, dark-faced and white-faced, mountain and 

 lowland, short-woolled and long-woolled; but the most common plan 

 is to divide them into Mountain breeds, Long-woolled breeds, and 

 Down breeds. As in most classifications, it is difficult to draw 

 sharp lines, but the three classes are fairly distinct. There are no 

 fat-tailed or tailless sheep in this country, and except in the case 

 of a few specimens of four-horned sheep surviving in the Western 

 Islands of Scotland, the horns, \*here present, are restricted to 

 one pair. 



There is a remarkable amount of variation in British sheep, but 

 in all, the carcase is the chief consideration, and though some of 

 them cannot be surpassed for weight of fleece, and others are in 

 the first rank as regards fineness of wool, there is no breed 

 corresponding to the Merino kept almost entirely for wool produc- 

 tion. It will, therefore, be convenient before discussing the 

 different breeds in detail to mention the general points and 

 characteristics regarded as desirable in sheep kept principally as 

 mutton producers. 



1. A wide, deep body, compact and well-balanced, with an easy 



graceful carriage. 



2. A well-carried head, characteristic of the breed, with good 



depth and strength of jaw, broad across the bridge 

 of the nose ; full bold, bright eyes, indicating both 

 docility and courage. In a ram the head must be 

 thoroughly masculine in character though not coarse ; 

 in a ewe it should be more refined but not weak. 



3. The neck, thick towards the trunk, fitting well and evenly 



into the shoulders so that the junction is almost 

 imperceptible, tapering to the head, arching slightly, 

 medium in length, and free from " throatiness " at the 

 junction with the head. 



4. The chest, broad, deep, and projecting well in front of the 



forelegs. 



5. The back, level and broad throughout its length (though 



some of the mountain breeds have sharp shoulder-tops 

 or withers), with an even covering of firm and 

 muscular flesh ; under and upper-lines straight. 



6. The ribs, well sprung and deep. 



7. The shoulders, well laid and covered with firm flesh. The 



regions immediately behind the shoulders level and 

 free from hollows. 



8. The thighs and also the arms and the fore flanks, thick and 



fleshed well down. 



9. The quarters, long, deep, and wide, and not drooping too 



much towards the tail ; little space between them and 

 the last ribs. 



10. The legs, straight, set wide apart, and not too long ; the 



bone clean and fine, neither coarse nor deficient. 



