THE LONK. 95 



has been crossed more towards the south of the Riding with 

 the Cheviot and the Leicester, and has been improved by 

 both. Towards the north it has been oftener crossed with the 

 Heath sheep, and then the legs and faces are black, or grey or 

 spotted." This appears to fit with a remark found below, 

 that " the Penistone breed is a shorter and thicker description 

 of Lonk." 



About thirty years ago a notice of these sheep, by the late 

 H. H. Dixon, known as " The Druid," appeared in volume ii. 

 2nd series, of the Royal Agricultural Society's Journal, from 

 which we make the following extract : " The hill ranges of 

 Yorkshire and Lancashire are believed to be the earliest home 

 of the Lonks. We find them extending north from Clitheroe 

 over the forest of Bowland towards Lancaster, east of Colne 

 and Skipton as far as Keighley and Ben Rhydding, and south 

 along the ' back-bone of England ' by Pendle Hill, Burnley, 

 Todmorden and Bacup, almost to Blackstone Edge. The 

 PENISTONE breed, a shorter and thicker description of Lonk, 

 there hold the hills. Saddleworth has also a large and plain 

 sheep of its own with white face and legs, and coarse bone. 

 The Saddleworth is a slower feeder than the common Lonk. 

 Derbyshire also has Lonks on most of its hills and peaks, and 

 its flock masters often go over to ' report progress ' at the 

 Craven show." 



The Lonks are a distinct breed, and are most valued on low 

 lying, damp and mossy land. They are like the Heath sheep, 

 black and white faced, horned in both sexes, carrying a 

 superior fleece of fine, moderately long wool, which is closer in 

 texture and more springy and elastic than the wool of the 

 Scotch Black faces. The bieed is peculiar for resisting the 

 effects of a damp soil. The Lonk is a larger, thicker made, 

 and better woolled sheep than the Scotch Black-faced, and 

 was well represented at the show of the Royal at Chester in 

 1893. 



