MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 127 



breed particularly true so far as an established type is concerned. 

 They are famous for early maturity and their meat is of excellent 

 quality. The color of the face of this breed varies from fawn-color 

 to mottled and black. 



THE NORFOLK SHEEP. 



The Norfolk sheep was at one time pretty generally bred in 

 Norfolk, Suffolk and adjoining counties, but now, as a mutton 

 sheep, it is fast disappearing. They have been described as being 

 very well suited to the heath districts of the different parts of the 

 country. They very much resemble the Blackface Highland, hav- 

 ing long, spiral horns and black faces and legs. They are of a wild, 

 roving disposition. The mutton is considered to be of exceedingly 

 fine quality. Two-year-old wethers weigh from 16 to 20 Ib. per 

 quarter. The writer has often thought that some of these old, 

 neglected breeds could be tried with advantage in this country, as 

 they are not by any means children of pampering or care. 



WILTSHIRE SHEEP. 



The Wiltshire sheep is a large breed, carrying a very fine 

 fleece of medium length. It was at one time thought a very 

 profitable breed in its native and neighboring counties, but of 

 late they have been considered as extravagant feeders and thought 

 not to give proper returns in meat for food consumed. They are 

 a horned breed with white face and legs, rather light in the fore- 

 quarters with no undercovering and an unsightly dewlap. 



THE YORK OR PENISTONE SHEEP. 



In the hills of Lancaster and Yorkshire there exists a breed 

 of sheep known as the York or Penistone. It is said to have 

 existed from time immemorial. It is a horned breed with black, 

 grey or spotted, and sometimes white face and legs. It carries a 

 somewhat superior fleece of rather long staple, and is recom- 

 mended for deep soils. Its meat is said to be of coarse texture, 

 and its tail considerably elongated and very thick. It has been 

 improved in recent years by crossing with Cheviot and Leicester 

 rams. 



BERKSHIRE SHEEP. 



The Berkshire is in many respects much like the Wiltshire 

 sheep, only smaller, but perhaps it is equal so far as fineness of 

 fleece is concerned. 



BRETON SHEEP. 



It has been claimed that this is the smallest breed of sheep 

 in the world. It is too small to be profitable to raise, as it gives 

 but little wool and the hungry man could eat almost a whole sheep 



