VARIETIES OF SHEEP AND THEIA CHARACTERISTICS. 



1035 



be taken as breeds, the Dorsets and their congeners — the pink-nosed 

 Somersets. They produce a short, felting-wool, suited to inferior grades 

 of goods. The Ryeland, formerly found in the western counties, and es- 

 teemed for producing the finest clotli-wool of England, is now almost ex- 

 tinct. The third general division comprises the mountain breeds, first 

 the Cheviots of the hills of the North of England and borders of Scot- 

 land ; the Black-face of the central chain of mountains and moors north- 

 ward from Derbyshire to the mountains of Scotland ; and two varieties 

 of Welsh mountain- sheep, and the Kerry and other mountain breeds of 

 Ireland. There are many local remnants of the ancient stock allied to 

 the above, but there are none worthy of special mention. The weight ol 

 fleece of British sheep averages about five pounds. The Lincolns may be 

 placed at eight pounds, the Cotswolds nearly the same, the Leicesters at 

 tseven, the Downs at four, the Cheviots at three, the Black-faces at two 

 and one-half, and the Welsh at two.^ The Leicesters are most numerous, 

 exceeding one-third of all ; the Downs one-sixth, the Black-faces nearlj 

 as many. Cheviots one-eighth, leaving about one-fifth for other breeds. 

 The heavy breeds of eighty years ago, modified mainly by the Leicestert 

 now furnish lighter fleeces. 



BUNCH OF YEARLING CHEVIOT LAMBS. 



