68 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



THE SHETLAND SHEEP. 



ARE handsome, small, and in general hornless; 

 and are peculiarly distinguished by the unusual 

 shortness and smallness of their tails. They weigh, 

 when fat, from eight to ten pounds per quarter. 

 Their fleeces are, on an average, about two pounds 

 weight. The wool, when properly dressed, is of a 

 pure and glossy white : some small specimens of 

 it, compared with Vigognia wool, were allowed, by 

 good judges, to be fully as fine, and, in softness, 

 equal to that of which the Indian shawls are made. 

 The Sheep producing this fine wool, are said to be 

 of the hardiest nature : they are never housed, and, 

 in the winter season, are often so pinched for food, 

 that they are obliged to feed upon the sea-ware 

 driven upon the shore. Besides the wool with 

 which they are covered, they have long hairs grow- 

 ing amongst it, which serve to shelter it. 



It is a singular circumstance, that the Shetland 

 Sheep are never shorn; but, about the beginning 

 of June, the wool is pulled off, without the smallest 

 pain or injury to the animal, leaving the long hairs 

 already mentioned, which contribute to keep the 

 creature warm and comfortable, at a season of the 

 year when cold and piercing winds may be ex- 

 pected, in so northern a latitude. 



From the spirited measures which are now taken 

 to preserve this valuable breed,* we are led to hope, 

 that British wool may in time regain that great 



* See the Report of the Committee of the Highland Society, on 

 the subject of wool, 1789. 



