144 WESTMORLAND AGRICULTURE, 1800— 1900 



the Scottish borders, occupying the moors, heaths and fells of the 

 mountainous parts of this large tract of country, mingling where 

 they came in contact with other breeds, such as the Cheviots on the 

 Borders and the Herd wick in Westmorland and Cumberland. " On 

 both sides of the Tweed the sheep are much the same," wrote CuUey, 

 " but continue to grow worse northward, until we reach the extent 

 of barren country called Lammermuir, where they seem a mixture 

 between the Cheviot and Heath kinds, but mostly inclined to the 

 latter." In 1837 Wm. Youatt, describing them, says : " They have 

 mostly horns, more or less spirally formed, but the females are fre- 

 quently without horns. The faces and legs are black, or at least 

 mottled ; the eyes are wild and fierce. They are covered with wool 

 about the forehead and lower jaw, and the wool generally is somewhat 

 open and long and coarse and shaggy ; not so long, however, but that 

 the sheep may be properly classed among the middle-wooled breeds." 



During the past century the Black-faced Heath or Muir Sheep 

 has been gradually improved, the development, difficult though it 

 is to trace, has proceeded along different lines, and has resulted in 

 three distinct varieties being evolved in the county, all of which are 

 now known as " Blackfaced," viz. : (i) Scotch, (2) Rough Fell, (3) 

 Swaledales or Swaddles ; these three kinds are kept in a pure state, 

 and together constitute by far the greatest number of sheep in the 

 county. They range from the eastern side of Longsleddale to Bannes- 

 dale, Fawcett Forest, Bretherdale, Shap FeUs, Bampton, Crosby, 

 Asby Fell, Dufton Fell, Hilton Fell, Stainmore, Kirkby Stephen, 

 Mallerstang, Ash Fell, Ravenstonedale, Orton, Grayrigg and the 

 Middleton Fells. 



(i) Scotch. — At an early date in the century, or even some years 

 previous to its commencement, the Dishley sheep had been introduced, 

 and improvement in both carcase and wool by the introduction of this 

 blood had very early to be noted. Culley writes of the Galloway and 

 Ayrshire sheep, in 1794, that they were in some degree different from 

 the ordinary type, which he supposed to be due to crossing with the 

 Cheviot ; but by crossing with the Dishley breed they had " hitherto 

 succeeded beyond expectation." " In Lancashire, in Westmorland, 

 and in Cumberland," writes Youatt in 1837, " the native short-wooled 

 sheep have been crossed by the Leicesters with much benefit." Through 



