TEESWATER NEW LEICESTER. 



3 



and covers a coarse-o^rained slow-feeding carcass ; so 

 Slow, indeed, at feeding, that it cannot be fattened at 

 an early age, except upon rich land ; but the breed is 

 encouraged, from the great weight of wool that is shorn 

 from them every year. It and its sub-varieties are ex- 

 tremely common in the English counties. 



(7-) The Teeswater sheep were originally bred 

 from the same stock as the former, but have become 

 different, from the size having received greater atten- 

 tion than the wool, which is inferior both in length and 

 weight. They stand upon higher and finer boned legs, 

 which support a firmer and heavier carcass, much wider 

 upon the back and sides, and afford a fatter and riner- 

 grained mutton — the two-year-old wethers weighing from 

 25 lbs. to 30 lbs. per quarter. Marshall, in his work on 

 Yorkshire, remarks, that they are not so compact, nor 

 so complete in their form, as the Leicestershire sheep ; 

 nevertheless, the excellency of their flesh and fatting 

 quality is not doubted, and their wool still remains 

 superior. For the banks of the Tees, or any other rich 

 fat land, they are singularly excellent. 



(8.) The Dishley, or New Leicester, is distin- 

 guished from other long- woolled breeds, by clean heads, 

 straight broad flat backs, round bodies, small bones, thin 

 pelts, and a disposition to fatten at an early age. But 

 more of this hereafter. The weight of three-year-old ewe« 

 is from 18 lbs. to 26 lbs. per quarter ; and of two-year 

 old wethers from 20 lbs. to 30 lbs. The wool averages 

 from 6 lbs. to 8 lbs., and is thought by some to be in- 

 ferior in quality to that of Cheviot sheep ; but, from 

 being fully fed at all seasons, they yield great quan- 

 LUics of it. Y'vx. 1. PI. III. 



