88 THE SHEEP. 



the country, and partly to the superior care bestowed in 

 breeding. Those existing in the hills of Cumberland, West- 

 moreland, Yorkshire, and Lancashire, are much inferior to 

 those of the Border counties of Scotland. Over a great part 

 of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, the breed has de- 

 generated, from the want of care, and from insufficient food. 

 In many of these situations, indeed, the stock may be said 

 to be mixed, for it has been the result of crosses with the 

 original races. This is in an especial manner the case in 

 the Hebrides, where the animals are small, and every way in- 

 ferior to the genuine Heath Breed. 



The treatment of this hardy race of Sheep has a necessary 

 relation to the circumstances of the country in which it is 

 produced. The breeder of the Sheep is not usually the per- 

 son who fattens them for use. He rears them to the age 

 which suits the nature of his farm, and disposes of them to 

 others who have farms on which they can be kept till they 

 have arrived at the proper age for being fattened. They are 

 then disposed of to the graziers and farmers, whose pastures, 

 or means of supplying artificial food, enable them to prepare 

 them for the butcher. This species of transfer is continually 

 going on, and the numerous fairs of the country are the marts 

 to which vast flocks of these Sheep are brought at different 

 times. They find their way to the ultimate markets of con- 

 sumption at various ages, but mostly when between three 

 and four years old, and when the mutton has arrived at its 

 greatest perfection in juiciness and flavour. Increasing 

 numbers of them are now carried to the markets of London 

 and other great towns, aided by the facilities of intercourse 

 afforded by steam navigation. 



The means of rearing these numerous Sheep are afforded 

 by the stocks of ewes maintained on the farms of the breeders, 

 the number of each flock of ewes depending on the quality 

 and extent of the natural pastures, and the age to which the 

 progeny is reared on the breeding-farm. Thus, when the 

 Sheep are sold when lambs or hoggets, the proportion of 



