188 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



had all the defects attributed to the original stock by Cully* They might 

 not, however, have been favorable specimens of the breed. 



On the steep, storm-lashed Cheviot Hills, in the extreme North of Eng- 

 land, this breed first attracted notice for their great hardiness in resisting 



■\ 



At 









CHEVIOT EWK. 



cold and feeding on coarse heathery herbage. A cross with the Leices- 

 ter, pretty generally resorted to, constitutes the improved variety. The 

 characteristics of the Leicester are quite evident in the portrait of the 

 Cheviot Ewe, above, copied from Mr. Youalt. 



Professor Low thus speaks of the result of this cross : 



" The Cheviot breed amalgamates with the Leicester, and a sj^stem of breeding has been 

 extensively introduced for producing the first cross of this descent. The rams employed are 

 of the pure Leicester breed, and tlie progeny is superior in size, weight of wool, and tenden- 

 cy to fatten, to the native Cheviot. . . . The benefit, however, may be said to end with the 

 first cross, and the progeny of this mixed descent, is greatly inferior to the pure Leicester 

 ill fonn and fattening properties, and to the pure Cheviot in hardiness of constitution. 



Of the improved Cheviot Mr. Spooner says : 



" This breed has gi-eatly extended itself throughout the mountains of Scotland, and in 

 many instances supplanted the Black-faced breed ; but the change, though in many cases ad- 

 vantageous, has in some instances been otherwise, the latter being somewhat hardier, and 

 more capable of subsisting on heathy pasturage. They are, however, a hardy race, well 

 suited for their native pastures, bearing with comparative impunity the storms of winter, 

 and thriving well on poor keep. Though less hardy than the black-faced sheep of Scotland, 

 they are more profitalale as respects their feeding, making more flesh on an equal quantity 

 of food, and making it quicker. They have white faces and legs, open countenances, lively 

 eyes, without horns. The ears are large, and somewhat singular, and there is much space 

 between the ears and eyes. The carcass is long ; the back sti-aight ; the shoulders rather 

 light ; the ribs circular ; and the quarters good. The legs are small in the bone and cov- 

 ered with wool, as well as the body, with "the exception of the face. The Cheviot wether 

 is fit for the butcher at three years old, and averages fi-om I'i lbs. to 18 lbs. per quarter — the 

 mutton beuig of a good quahty, though inferior to the South-Down, and of less flavor than 

 the Black-faced The Cheviot,"though a mountain breed, is quiet and docile, and ea- 

 sily managed. The wool is fine, (?) closely covers the body, assisting much in preserving it 



* See Cully on Live Stock, p. 150. 

 (380) 



i 



