THE SHEEP. 201 



breed has added prodigiously to the total quantity and value 

 of the long wool produced in the country. With respect to 

 the supposed deficiency of this breed in hardiness, and fecun- 

 dity of the females, it is to be observed, that this, where it 

 really exists, is the result of that refinement in breeding 

 which would equally affect any race of Sheep subjected to 

 the same treatment. The more we remove a race of animals 

 from the natural state, by stimulating the system to an early 

 maturity, the more we may expect them to lose that hardi- 

 ness which is proper to them in a ruder condition. The New 

 Leicester is a breed of artificial formation, and its establish- 

 ment and maintenance infer a certain advancement in agri- 

 culture, the due supply of cultivated food, and that care of 

 the animals which their acquired habits and temperament 

 demand. It is not denied that the New Leicester breed is 

 more delicate and less prolific than some of the coarser races 

 whose places it has taken ; but these defects exist only in 

 a degree to be injurious, where refinement of breeding is 

 carried to an excess which every breeder has now the power 

 to avoid. 



The BREEDS OF SHEEP of the British Islands which have 

 been generally referred to, or of which particular descrip- 

 tions have been given, may be thus classified : 



1. 'The Zetland and Orkney Breeds, of the variety Irevi- 

 cauda. They inhabit the most northerly islands, and are dis- 

 tinguished by their bearing a fleece of fine soft wool, largely 

 intermixed with hairs. The purest of them are found on the 

 remoter Islands of Zetland. They are hardy, wild, and of 

 small size ; and do not merit extension beyond the countries 

 which they now occupy. 



2. The Older Soft-woolled Sheep of Scotland. They are 

 of small weight, have long lank bodies, and bear a short soft 

 wool, fitted for the manufacture of flannels, but deficient in 

 the property of felting. These varieties are now nearly ex- 



