204 THE SHEEP. 



from the other Forest Breeds by producing wool of medium 

 length, and more fitted for preparation by the comb than the 

 card. 



9. The Ry eland Breed, the remains of some of the smaller 

 fine-woolled varieties of the western counties. These Sheep 

 are hornless, of small size, and of good forms, patient of 

 scanty food, and productive of a fine short felting wool, which 

 was long the most esteemed for the making of cloth of any 

 in England. This breed, from the substitution of the larger 

 varieties, and the effects of crossing, has been long diminish- 

 ing in numbers, and is now nearly extinct. 



10. The South Down Breed, derived from the chalky hills 

 of Sussex on the British Channel. It is to be classed 

 amongst the Down and Forest Breeds, but it has been made 

 to surpass them all by the effects of breeding and careful 

 culture. It has been widely spread over all the south-east- 

 ern counties of England, and has passed into districts be- 

 yond the countries of the Chalk, taking the place of the pre- 

 existing breeds of the downs and commons. The Sheep of 

 this breed are destitute of horns, have dark-coloured faces 

 and limbs, and produce a short felting wool fitted for pre- 

 paration by the card. Their size varies with the locality, 

 and the taste and opinions of the breeders ; but they are of 

 greater weight, and bear heavier fleeces, than the older 

 Sheep of the Sussex Downs. They are adapted to a lower 

 range of pastures than the Black-faced Sheep and Cheviot 

 Breeds, and are better fitted for a dry and temperate climate 

 than for a cold and moist one. 



11. The Old Wiltshire. This and the other varieties of 

 the larger fine-woolled Sheep of the central counties of Chalk, 

 may be said to be now extinct beyond a few scattered rem- 

 nants. They produced good felting wool, and fattened to a 

 considerable weight ; but they were of coarse forms, and 

 have universally yielded to the progress of the more highly 

 cultivated Southdowns. 



12. The Dorset and Pink-nosed Somerset Breeds, natural- 



