THE SOFT-WOOLLED SHEEP OF SCOTLAND. 63 



II. THE SOFT-WOOLLED SHEEP OF SCOTLAND. 



Although the early inhabitants of North Britain directed 

 more attention to the Goat than to the Sheep, it appears 

 that Sheep were reared by them in some numbers in the 

 higher countries, and largely in the plains, when the country 

 had become cleared of wood and partially cultivated. Rem- 

 nants of the older races existed up to a late period in the 

 last century; but on the introduction of Sheep of a larger 

 size, and of more economical value, the older races progres- 

 sively disappeared, until a few scattered flocks only were 

 left in some of the more distant parts of the country, chiefly 

 in the Hebrides and Central Highlands. These Sheep pre- 

 sented different characters, according to the nature of the 

 localities in which they were reared ; but they may be de- 

 scribed, in general, as being of small size, and lank agile 

 forms ; as having generally short slender horns ; and as hav- 

 ing a soft wool, fitted for the making of flannels, but not 

 well adapted for felting. They had the tails long, and not 

 short and flat like the Sheep of northern Europe ; so that 

 they differed entirely in race from those which, at a sub- 

 sequent period, were introduced into the remoter Islands 

 by the Scandinavian pirates. They were of various colours, 

 frequently brown, and often this brown colour remained on 

 the face when the rest of the body had become white ; on 

 which account they sometimes received the name of the Dun- 

 faced breed. They were exceedingly wild, and hardly to be 

 confined by common enclosures. They were hardy in a re- 

 markable degree, subsisting on scanty fare, and bearing the 

 rudest treatment, and were remarkably exempt from those 

 maladies which frequently produce such ravages in the mo- 

 dern races. 



The Soft-woolled Sheep may be said to be now nearly ex- 

 tinct as a separate variety in Scotland ; but kindred races 



