20 



BRITISH SHEEP AND SHEPHERDING. 



These features are given as a general guide, and they do not 

 make narrow distinctions. 



In respect to more detailed features the reader is referred to the 

 several breed societies, or to the National Sheep Breeders' Associa- 

 tion. 



The longwool sheep, the white-faced sheep of the rich plains, 

 are quite distinct. In the greater number of cases the short wools 

 are heath breeds, though a few of the sheep of the higher hills 

 are of older origin. The fact that sheep are existing on high hills 

 does not prove that they are distinct from the heath breeds found 

 at lower levels ; they have merely acquired features and habits 

 which grazing on rougher land at higher elevations develop. Heath 

 breeds, the foundation of so many of the modern shortwool breeds, 

 were generally, but not always, horned ; some had white faces, 

 and some dark or mottled, some tan in fact, several intermediate 

 shades between white and black, and illustrations of these varied 

 colourings were found indiscriminately scattered about the country. 

 They were found on the high hills, heaths, forests, broken woodlands, 



