THE COftSWOLD SHEEP. 16? 



with the effect of restoring their lost qualities. The modern im- 

 proved Leicester is without horns; with white face and legs, a 

 small, fine head, bare on the poll ; a large, bright, and very promi- 

 nent eye ; square and deep neck and shoulders ; straight, flat, broad 

 back ; deep body ; hind quarters tapering somewhat to the tail, and 

 not so square as in the Cotswold ; clean legs, and fine bone. The 

 flesh is good, but overloaded with outside fat. The fleece is fine, 

 glossy, silky, white, and of but moderate length, averaging 7 to 8 

 pounds hi weight. The skin is thin, soft, and elastic, and of a 

 very delicate pinkish tinge, when the animal is in full health. The 

 Leicester cannot by any means be called a hardy sheep, as it requires 

 good keep, careful shelter, and skillful treatment to maintain it in 

 thriving condition. When ailing it gives way at once, and de- 

 clines rapidly. It matures rapidly and early, and at twelve months 

 old when well fed, will dress 100 pounds, and at two years reaches 

 a weight of 150 pounds. A four-year-old ram in prime condition 

 has weighed 380 pounds live weight. For use in this country, tae 

 Leicester cannot compete with the Cotswold, nor is it fitted in any 

 way to become the farmer's sheep, excepting in very rare cases, 

 when its services might be desired to refine a Cotswold cross in the 

 hands of a breeder who thoroughly understands his business. 



THE COTSWOLD. This breed has become so common in Ameri- 

 ca, and has been bred so extensively without fresh importations of 

 new blood, that it may well be adopted as a native sheep. Many 

 excellent flocks are now self-sustaining, and under their American 

 nativity, lose nothing of their original excellence. The Maple 

 Shade flock, originally the property of Mr. John D. Wing, of 

 Dutchess County, N. Y., but some years ago divided, and now 

 owned by other parties, is one of many instances of the successful 

 acclimatization of this most valuable sheep. The Cotswold has 

 an ancient history. It is said to have been introduced into Eng- 

 land from Spain, by Eleanora, Queen of Henry II, of England, in 

 the twelfth century. Although there is nothing more than tradi- 

 tion to support this, yet there is some corroboration of it in the 

 fact that in Spain there has long existed, and is now, a breed of 

 coarse, long wool sheep not unlike the original Cotswold in some 

 respects. It is known, however, that in fifty years after this early 

 date, the wool of the Cotswold sheep was a source of material 

 wealth, and was jealously guarded by law. Three centuries after 

 this, (in 1467), permission was granted by the English king, Ed- 

 ward IV, as a royal favor, to export some of these sheep to Spain. 

 They were originally very coarse animals, with thick, heavy 

 fleece, well adapted to their home upon the bleak exposed Cots- 



