118 THE SHEEP. 



XI. THE PENISTONE BREED. 



As connected with the Heath Breeds of the country may 

 here be mentioned one of remarkable characters, termed the 

 Penistone. This race inhabits a district of the coal forma- 

 tion on the confines of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Derbyshire. 

 It is found in the higher parts of this district, where a coarse 

 heathy herbage prevails, occupying a limited tract of about 

 twenty-six miles by twenty. On the slopes of the hills, the 

 older breeds merge in the crosses that have been made, 

 chiefly with the Leicester. The Sheep are termed Penistone, 

 from the market-town of that name, lying a few miles to the 

 south of Huddersfield, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and 

 to which they are usually driven for sale. 



These Sheep have wool of a medium length, of a silky ap- 

 pearance, but harsh and wiry, and weighing from four to five 

 pounds the fleece. They have white faces and legs. The 

 rams exceed the size of the ewes and wethers in an unusual 

 degree ; a peculiarity which is ascribed to their being taken to 

 the lower country to be reared. The rams alone have horns, 

 which are very large, lying close to the head, and projecting 

 forward. A distinguishing character of this breed is an ex- 

 treme coarseness of form, and especially of the extremities. 

 The feet are large, the limbs bony, the shoulders heavy, the 

 sides flat ; but the most singular characteristic is the length 

 and muscularity of the tail, in which respect the Penistone 

 Sheep differ from all others in this country. This enlarge- 

 ment of the tail is merely muscular and bony, and not at all 

 analogous to the growth of fat which takes place in the tails 

 of certain Sheep of Eastern countries. The mutton of these 

 Sheep is highly valued for its juiciness and flavour. 



The Penistone is manifestly to be referred to the same 

 general type as the Black-faced Heath Breed. It approaches 

 to this race in the character of its wool, but differs from it in 

 its clumsier and less agile form. The individuals are very 



