56 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



THE BLACK-FACED, OR HEATH RAM. 



The north-west part of Yorkshire, with all that 

 mountainous tract of country running towards 

 Lancashire southward, and to Fort William north- 

 ward, is occupied by a hardy, black-faced, wild- 

 looking tribe, generally called short Sheep, which 

 differ from our other breeds, not only in the 

 darkness of their complexions and horns, but 

 principally in the coarse shaggy wool which they 

 produce. Their eyes have a fiery, sharp, and wild 

 cast. They run with great agility, and seem quite 

 adapted to the heathy mountains they inhabit. 

 Their flesh is peculiarly fine and high-flavoured. 

 The three great fairs for these sheep (where amaz- 

 ing numbers of them are sold every year) are, 

 Stagshaw-bank, in Northumberland; Brough, in 

 Westmorland; and Linton, in Scotland. There is 

 likewise a breed of Sheep inhabiting the same 

 country as the former; but peculiarly distinguished 

 from them by long, thin bodies, white legs, white 

 faces, and by having no horns. Their wool is fine 

 and thickly planted. 



