MIDDLE-WOOLLED SHEEP. 



CHAPTER VI. 

 MIDDLE-WOOLLED SHEEP. 



IN introducing a new class of sheep it is necessary to re- 

 pcrt progress. We have hitherto dealt with the long-woolled 

 races of sheep, as illustrated in such breeds as the Lincoln, 

 the Leicester and the Cotswold. As mentioned earlier in 

 this Handbook, we have in England no really short-woolled 

 sheep carrying fine wool. The true short-woolled sheep is 

 the Merino of Spain, Hungary, Germany and Australasia. 

 These sheep are not bred for mutton but for wool, whereas 

 under the cloudy skies of Britain, and the abundant pasturage 

 which our climate favours, we find sheep of larger frame, 

 thicker flesh, and longer fleeces. These are the true long- 

 woolled and middle-woolled sheep, in which undoubtedly we 

 excel in a marked degree. 



By contrast, it is true, the Southdown may be spoken of as 

 short-woolled ; but, if we take into consideration the still 

 shorter wool of the Merino, we shall see the propriety of 

 regarding our " short-woolled " sheep rather as middle-woolled 

 in character. 



The distinction is, however, very marked, as anyone can 

 see in visiting the various classes of sheep at any of our great 

 shows. The middle-woolled sheep, as we prefer to speak of 

 them, were originally found in every county of England, and 

 were represented by the old Ryeland, old Cotswold, and 

 other allied breeds, many of which have ceased to exist. 

 There, however, appears to have always been a class of black 

 or brown-faced sheep indigenous to the chalk districts of 



