3(56 REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 



fattening properties, and can endure much hardship both from 

 starvation and cold and in this respect, they are perhaps 

 equal, if not superior, to any other breed. 



The Lammermuir farmer, an ardent admirer of them, says, that they are 

 hornless; the face and legs generally white; the eye lively and prominent; the 

 countenance open and pleasing; the ear large, and with a long space from the 

 ear to the eye; the body long, and hence they are called "long sheep," in dis- 

 tinction from the black-faced breed. They are full behind the shoulder, they 

 have a long straight back, they are round in the rib, and well proportioned in 

 their quarters; the legs are clean and small-boned, and the pelt is thin, but 

 thickly covered with fine short vool. The wool extends over the whole of 

 the body, and forward behind the ear, but leaves the face uncovered a cir- 

 cumstance that gives a very pleasing appearance to the face and head. The 

 muscle and the wool fall well down towards the knee; and although on the 

 thigh the wool is somewhat coarse, the farmer is compensated by the abundant 

 growth of it on that part. 



The properties to be desired in a mountain breed are, that 

 it shall be hardy, of good form, of sufficient size, and with good 

 wool. For a combination of these qualities, the mountain 

 breed of the Cheviots has certainly not been surpassed. 



The South-down, which has been reared for centuries on 

 the chalky soils of Sussex, have obtained a high reputation in 

 Europe, and also in America. Their general diffusion has 

 effected a great and important change on the short-wooled 

 breeds. The specific characters of this breed are faces and 

 legs gray bones fine head clean neck long and small low 

 before shoulder wide light in the fore-quarter sides and 

 chest deep loin broad back-bone rather too high thigh full 

 and twist good wool fine, short, and of good quality, and 

 ranging from three and a half to four pounds per fleece at two 

 years old. Their flesh is of excellent flavour they are kindly 

 feeders, and well adapted to an extensive range of the lighter 

 soils. They are without horns. 



The Rydand forming the early breed of Herefordshire, is 

 early mentioned among the fine wooled sheep of Britain. They 

 have been so merged in various crosses, that remnants of the 

 pure Ryelands only remain. They are destitute of horns, of 

 small size, wool two pounds to the fleece, exceedingly fine. 

 They are excellent feeders and afford superior mutton. 



The Norfolk breed, indigenous in the counties of Norfolk, 

 Suffolk, and Cambridge, are a powerful race of animals, with 

 horns and long muscular limbs of a wild, roving disposition, 

 and not easily confined except in high and strong enclosures. 

 Legs and faces entirely black wool short and fitted for the 

 making of cloths. They have pretty generally given place to 

 the South-down. 



The Wiltshire breed is now almost extinct as a separate 

 variety; the favourite South-down almost entirely usurping its 

 place. They were the largest of the fine wooled sheep, but of 



