44 SHEEP : BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



than that of the Southdown. Taking as an indication of 

 fineness the number of serrations and the diameter of the 

 wool fibres, we find that these three breeds compare as 

 follows : 



Number of Diameter of 



serrations per inch each fibre, 



in length. Inch. 



Saxony Merino 2,720 l-84Oth. 



Ryeland (old breed) ... 2,420 l-75oth. 



Southdown... 2,080 i-66oth. 



The Ryeland of the early years of the century seldom 

 exceeded 14 or 16 Ib. per quarter in the wether, or from 10 

 to 13 Ib. in the ewe. They had white faces and were polled ; 

 the wool grew close to and sometimes covered the eyes. The 

 legs were small and clean, the bone light, the carcase round 

 and compact and peculiarly developed on the loins and 

 haunches. It was particularly frugal in its fare, and would 

 endure privation of food better than any other breed. Sir 

 Joseph Banks, who was well acquainted with their constitu 

 tion and habits, used to say that the Ryeland sheep deserved 

 a niche in the temple of fame. The weight of the fleece 

 rarely exceeded 2 Ibs. A noted ewe bred by Mr. Welles, and 

 figured in Youatt's fine treatise on sheep, weighed when fat 

 25 Ib. per quarter. The similarity of the old Ryeland breed 

 to the Merino, and a certain foreign appearance, favour the 

 idea that it was imported from another clime. 



The breed appears to have extended over Herefordshire, 

 Monmouthshire, Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, 

 and to have been scattered from the Tyne to the Thames. 



The practice of cotting the Ryelands, although now for- 

 gotten, was very ancient. During the winter and especially 

 at lambing time, they were shut up at night either in an unoc- 

 cupied building or in a place erected for the purpose. They 

 were then fed with hay or barley straw, or pease haulm given 

 to them in racks, frequently suspended by ropes, and so con- 

 trived as to be easily raised in proportion as the dung accu- 

 mulated below ; for neither the owner nor the shepherd 



