94 THE SHEEP. 



Heath Breed of the elevated moors adjoining. The Cheviot 

 Sheep are destitute of horns in the male and female : their 

 faces and legs are white, exceptions merely occurring in the 

 case of individuals in which these parts are dun. The body 

 is very closely covered with wool, which is short and suffi- 

 ciently fine for the making of certain cloths. The two shear- 

 wethers, when fat, may weigh, on a medium, from sixteen to 

 eighteen pounds the quarter, though with great differences, 

 dependent on the natural productiveness of the pastures, and 

 the method of treatment when young. The ewes are usually 

 reckoned to weigh from twelve to fourteen pounds the quarter, 

 though with such differences as depend on the nature of the 

 soil and pastures, and the method of treatment. The mutton 

 of these sheep is very good, though inferior in delicacy to that 

 of the South Down and Welsh Sheep, and in flavour to that of 

 the Black-faced Heath Breed. Their natural form is, like that 

 of all mountain breeds, with a light fore-quarter ; but this cha- 

 racter is removed by the effects of breeding, and the modern 

 Cheviots are of good form. The body is somewhat longer 

 than is usually the case with the Heath Breed, which has 

 given rise to the popular distinction, in districts where both 

 breeds are cultivated, of Long and Short Sheep. They are 

 larger in the lower countries, where a supply of turnips can 

 be given : they are lighter in the more elevated tracts, where 

 artificial food is scanty, or wanting. The breeders adopt the 

 kind of animal which is suited to the pastures, preferring a 

 short-legged larger Sheep for the lower farms, and one of 

 lighter and more agile form for the more upland and colder. 

 The Cheviot Sheep are of quiet habits, possessing, indeed, 

 the independence of a mountain race, but having none of the 

 indocility which distinguishes some other races. They are 

 exceedingly hardy, their close covering of fine wool enabling 

 them to resist the extremes of cold. They feed more on the 

 grasses, and less on the shoots of heath, than the Black-faced 

 Breed, and hence they are less adapted to a country of entire 



