SHEEP. 



229 



numbers by the nomad tribes of the Asiatic steppes; some preferring those 

 which are entirely black, while others cultivate a pure white breed. A large 

 number of lambs of the black breed are killed at a very early age for the sake of 

 their skins, which are covered with fine curly wool, and constitute the astrachan of 

 commerce. 



The Fezzan sheep, which is brown and white in colour and has a long and 

 round tail, has the pelage entirely in the form of hair. 



It would be impossible within the limits at our disposal to mention the various 

 breeds of round-tailed domestic sheep met with in various parts of the world ; and 

 we must, therefore, content ourselves with a brief mention of those cultivated in 

 the British Islands. 



The Shetland and Orkney breeds are characterised by their fleece 



' being composed of fine soft wool largely intermixed with hair. They 



are of small size and hardy disposition, with horns frequently present in both 



sexes, although often wanting in the ewes ; and their colour may be either black, 



brown, grey, or white. 



The older soft-woolled sheep of Scotland are a small-horned 

 breed, with lank bodies and short wool, which is deficient in the 

 property of felting. They are nearly extinct. 



Of the Welsh sheep there are two races, both of small size. The 

 first is the higher mountain-breed, characterised by the presence of 

 horns in both sexes, their generally dark colour, and the intermixture of a large 

 proportion of hair among their soft wool. The second breed is hornless, with soft 

 wool, which is deficient in the property of felting. These sheep are hardy, and 

 noted for the excellence of their flesh ; when removed from their native pastures 

 they are impatient of restraint. 



The Irish Wicklow sheep were almost identical with the Welsh 

 mountain sheep, but have been much altered by crossing. There are, 

 however, several other Irish breeds, among which the Kerry is the best known. 

 These are larger than- the Welsh sheep, with the horns frequently absent in the 

 ewes, and the fleece moderately soft, but irregular, and mixed with hair. They are 

 late in reaching maturity, and wild in disposition. 



The black-faced Heath breed, which are natives of the chain of 



mountains and moors extending northwards from Derbyshire, are the 



hardiest and boldest of all the British races. Both sexes are horned, and their 



faces and limbs are dark-coloured, and their fleeces coarse and shaggy. When 



taken to lower grounds, their wool becomes finer. 



The Cheviot breed, originally confined to a small tract of grassy 

 hills in the north of England, are rather heavier, although less robust 

 than the last. Both sexes are hornless, their faces and limbs are white, and they 

 produce wool of moderate fineness. 



The old Norfolk breed, of the eastern counties of England, 

 Norfolk Breed. . , . , 



are strong and active sheep, with horns in both sexes, which are 



thick and spiral in the rams. The body and limbs are long, the head carried is 

 high, and the face and legs are black; while the wool is silky and of medium 

 length. 



