106 BRITISH BREEDS. 



possession, like the Merinos and Saxons of our own coun- 

 try. In 1800, two of Mr. Ellman's rams were sold to the 

 Emperor of Russia, in order to try the effect of a cross on 

 the Northern sheep, for one hundred and fifty guineas each. 

 When Mr. EUman retired from public life, in 1829, his flock 

 was sold by auction at the following rates : 770 ewes 

 ^13 64 each; 320 lambs $7 92 each; 36 rams $112 50 

 each ; and his best ram for $292 50. This valuable breed 

 continue to sustain the high character they acquired through 

 Mr. Ellman's efforts, and amongst the purest and best flocks, 

 very high prices are demanded and obtained for breeders. 



For a further notice of the qualities of the South Down, 

 the reader is referred to the chapter on Breeding and 

 Crossing. 



RYELAND SHEEP. 



In point of number, the most distinguished breed of 

 sheep in Herefordshire, is the Ryeland, so called from a 

 district in the southern part of the county, on which a 

 large quantity of rye used to be grown, and where many of 

 these sheep were bred. This breed are rather small, sel- 

 dom exceeding 16 lbs. to the quarter ; and the weight of the 

 fleece about 2 lbs., but surpassing in fineness any other Brit- 

 ish breed. The diameter of the fibre was formerly the same 

 as pure Merino, and the number of serrations 2420 to an inch. 



The peculiar form of the Ryeland, in some respects re- 

 sembling the Merino, led to the suspicion that the breed 

 was of foreign extraction. The lightness of the fleece, and 

 its comparative inferiority as a mutton sheep, will cause it 

 eventually to be merged into other more profitable breeds, 

 and then the variety will become extinct. 



DORSET SHEEP. 



Dorsetshire possesses a valuable breed of sheep, peculiar 

 to itself. The pure breed are entirely white, the face long 

 and broad, with a tuft of wool on the forehead ; the shoul- 

 ders are low but broad, the back straight, the chest deep, the 

 loins broad, the legs rather beyond a moderate length, and 

 the bone small. They are a hardy and useful breed, and 

 the mutton is well flavored, averaging, when three years 

 old, from 16 to 20 lbs. a quarter.* 



* Youatt. 



