HILL AND HEATH BREEDS. 55 



their way through Scotland ; though, as Low pointed out some 

 eighty years ago, it was not until the middle of the eighteenth 

 century, when black cattle gave way to sheep, that it was 

 met with in Argyllshire and the central and northern Highlands. 

 It had, however, existed in Dumfries, Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk, 

 Peebles, Lanark, and adjoining districts, for an unknown period. 

 The main feature, however, is that it has the characteristics of the 

 heath breed, which is responsible for the finest mutton found 

 in these islands, or, for that matter, in the world, and beyond this 

 the adaptability to repopulate, almost without regard to altitude, 

 the districts which indigenously carried heath breeds before 

 relatively modern introductions pushed them aside. The Black-face 

 is fast helping to fill in these lapses, especially where the sheep 

 recently kept have not been well suited to the soil and conditions 

 generally. As it crosses so well with many breeds, and as breeds 

 in the cross with it maintain a high quality of meat, suited to modern 

 needs, it is a breed that must almost certainly be used in future 

 to remould old, or substitute new, breeds. Although it thrives 

 under conditions which few sheep could withstand, it prospers 

 with well-doing. 



The " Cross " sheep of Scotland are almost exclusively of the 

 Black-face or Cheviot with Border Leicester. Wensleydale rams 

 are frequently used in the south-west of Scotland and the north 

 of England, known in Scotland as Yorkshire crosses, and in England, 

 especially in the south, to which they are freely sent, as Mashams. 

 Many of these come far south, and not a few are turned into the 

 London public parks for grazing. 



As the breed is found over such a very wide area, embracing 

 many soils and climates, there is naturally some variation in type ; 

 but, on the whole, this is well maintained. 



Scotch Black-faced mutton is highly prized wherever well- 

 flavoured meat is in demand ; that from old sheep, from three 

 to five-year-old wethers, weighing 151b. to 161b. per quarter, 

 used to have preference, but taste has changed, and 

 younger has preference, particularly wether lambs of about 361b. 

 The average fleece is 3Jlb. to 4|lb. for ewes, and 7lb. for wethers. 

 The accepted points of the modern breed are : The face and 

 legs are black or mottled (distinctly clean, and free from dun or 

 brown), smooth, and glossy. Dark faces are in favour with breeders 

 of cross-lambs, which bring higher prices when dark. Wool 

 should not appear among the hair, although a slight tassel on 

 the forehead and fringes on the cheeks and legs may have to be 

 dressed off well-bred sheep for showing. The nose is strong, 

 broad, and prominent, and the nostrils are wide and black. The 

 horns of the ram are large, coming out level from the crown and 

 taking one or more spiral turns, according to age. The short 



