SHEEP I5X 



The constitution of the Swaledales is supposed to be weaker 

 than that of the Rough Fell sheep, as they do not thrive on the more 

 western hills ; where they have been tried they have been given up 

 on account of the great mortahty among them during the first year. 

 Acclimatization to their own moors may no doubt have much to do 

 with this peculiarity. 



A description of the breed is given in " British Breeds of Live 

 Stock" in 1910. It is as follows : — " The face is dark grey, associated 

 with a mealy nose and mottled shanks. They are not so well wooled 

 in front as the Scotch Blackface, but they are big-bodied and longer, 

 although they look smaller. The face is not so strong, but the tail 

 is long like the Lonks. They grow a shorter-stapled, closer wool 

 of finer quality ; except on the breech, where it is long and coarse, 

 and gives an appearance of lightness in the fore quarters." 



Herdwicks. — It is hardly necessary to repeat the legendary origin 

 of this breed — some say it owes its presence in this country to the 

 Armada — from the wreck of one of the ships on the West Cumberland 

 coast, from which about forty Spanish sheep swam ashore and wandered 

 over the Wastdale hills — others say the ship which was wrecked was 

 carrying Scotch sheep. The Revd. T. Ell wood supposes them to be 

 of Scandinavian origin, basing his theory on the numerals used in 

 counting them. Each of these theories may contain an element of 

 probability, which it is not necessairy to discuss. 



Taking a standpoint on the " backbone " of the county at the 

 head of Longsleddale, we find the Fell sheep to the west are Herd- 

 wicks, whilst those to the east and north are of the Scotch black-faced, 

 Rough Fell, or Swaledale breed. This was not always the case, for 

 there is evidence that in 1840, and for many years later, the Herd- 

 wicks extended through Longsleddale, Grajo^igg, Orton, Ravenstone- 

 dale to Kirkby Stephen, but in these districts they have been gradually 

 displaced by sheep of the Rough Fell type. 



The earliest description of the Herdwicks is given by Geo. Culley in 

 1794, he says : " The Herd wick Breed have no horns, their faces and 

 legs speckled ; but a greater portion of white, with a few black spots, 

 are accounted marks of the purest breed ; they have fine, small, clean 

 legs ; wool, short ; the fleeces from 2 to 2| lbs. each, sold in 1792 for 

 6d. per lb. The ewes weigh from 6 to 8 lbs. per quarter, the wethers 



