70 BRITISH SHEEP AND SHEPHERDING. 



crossed with the Leicester and Lincoln in early days. Another 

 Devon long-woolled breed was found west of Honiton, and this 

 was known as the Southam Notts (or hornless), which affected 

 South Devon and Cornwall, and which is now known as the South 

 Devon breed. This, then, had brown face and legs and a long 

 fleece. Some confusion sometimes occurs between these breeds, 

 as they are both entitled to be called longwools. In fact, indis- 

 criminately, both have been called Devon Longwools, though 

 locally there has been a distinction between the Bampton and 

 the Southam breeds or strains. However, more definite distinction 

 was set up when the Devon Longwool breeders established a 

 Flock Book in 1900, and the South Devon men published theirs 

 in 1904. The difficulty in respect to the naming and identifying 

 of these breeds, after improvement was started, was due to the fact 

 that there was not a constant name ; and the long-wool breeds of 

 Devon, owing to the very free use of Leicesters, were much 

 associated with that breed. At first they were known as 

 Devon-Nott, but as the Leicester type increased, the name 

 Leicester Longwools began to be applied some sixty years ago, 

 because, owing to the large infusion of Leicester, they were 

 disposed to regard them as a sub-variety of that breed. But, 

 a few years after, when the breeders dropped fresh introductions 

 of the Leicester, and more definitely selected the sheep within 

 themselves, establishing a marked type, they took up the name 

 of Devon Longwools. The Bamptom and the Southam were 

 distinct in type, and breeders in the respective districts, recognising 

 what features proved most successful on their land, have since 

 bred to those points, and without the introduction of new blood 

 have evolved the distinctive breeds of Devon Longwool and 

 South Devon. This distinction is doubtless seen by many breeders 

 throughout the century or more of evolution, but not appreciated 

 to a similar extent by those outside. 



The Devon Longwools are noted for their size, though this has 

 been judiciously modified by the breeder. Still they rank among 

 the heaviest breeds in this country. They show the good features 

 of the long-woolled breeds generally, and cut a fleece of long wool 

 of good quality. The breed does remarkably well on the rich 

 pastures of Somerset and Devon, is strong and hardy, produces 

 a good crop of lambs which are easily reared. 



SOUTH DEVON. 



The South Devon originated from the Southam, in the district 

 affecting South Devon and Cornwall. Some features of its origin 

 are mentioned in the account of the Devon Longwool breed. The 

 South Devon sprang from one of the strains of rich lowland or 



