ursToar of ihe siiekp. 



(9.) The Devonshire Nots form the fourth hornless 

 variety of long--woolled sheep. Forty or fifty years 

 Ego, they ranked as rniddle-woolled sheep ; but they 

 now figure among the long-wools, under the name of 

 Bamptons — their fleece having been lengthened, and 

 rendered finer, by crossing with the Leicesters. There 

 is yet, however, much room for improvement in these 

 crosses. They have white faces and legs, the latter 

 being short, and the bones large, while the necks are 

 thick, the bucks high, and the sides good. They ap- 

 proach in weight to the Leicester, but the wool is 

 heavier and coarser. In Devonshire are found a 

 white- faced and horned variety, which are known as 

 the Exmoor kind, from the place ox their nativity. 

 Though delicate in bone, they are not good, having a 

 narrow flat-sided carcass ; while the weight of the 

 quarters and fleece is a third short of the former va- 

 riety. 



(10.) The Dorsetshire sheep are horned and white- 

 faced, with a long thin carcass, and high small white 

 legs. Three-year-old wethers weigh from 16 lbs. to 20 

 lbs. a quarter ; but the wool, being fine and short, 

 weighs only from 3 lbs. to 4 lbs. a fleece. It is, how- 

 ever, amply compensated for by the mutton, which is 

 of superior quality. The peculiar and most valuable 

 property of this breed is the forwardness of the ewes, 

 whicii take the ram at any period of the year, often 

 lambing, so early as September or October. They are, 

 on this account, extremely useful for supplying large 

 towns with house-lamb at Christmas. Fig. 1. PI. II. 



(II.) Herefordshire or Ry eland sheep have white 

 legs and faces, and no horns. The wool grows close 



