252 FURNESS AND THE LAKE DISTRICT 



survive. But the value of underwood has declined 

 here as in the south, and many of the woodland crafts 

 which were so specially valuable as providing winter 

 labour are of no account nowadays. 



Sheep -breed ing is the main agricultural pursuit, and 

 the fells of the Lake District carry a breed of their 

 own, the Herdwicks, which claim to be the hardiest 

 race to be found in the British Islands satisfied with 

 the roughest of fare (a true Herdwick is said to refuse 

 hay even in the worst winters a statement more 

 typical than true perhaps), and with their close coat 

 proof even against the tremendous rainfall that pre- 

 vails. The Herdwick is a small white-faced sheep, 

 horned in the rams, but polled or doddied in the ewes, 

 exceptionally slow to mature, but producing mutton 

 of the finest mountain flavour and a close fleece of coarse 

 wool. The lambs are almost black-faced when born, 

 but the colour gradually lightens, and the adult sheep 

 look truly white in the face. Like so many other 

 somewhat isolated breeds, the Herdwick is supposed 

 to be descended from some Spanish sheep which 

 escaped from a wrecked Armada vessel, but there 

 appears to be no evidence, either documentary or 

 from affinities with existing Spanish breeds, to justify 

 this popular opinion. The Herdwicks are mostly sold 

 away to fatten on the turnips and grass of the low- 

 lands ; the lambs which are not yet acclimatized to 

 the heavy winters are put out to keep in October 

 on the grassland along the Cumberland coast. Like 

 other hill breeds the Herdwick ewes are crossed when 

 they leave their native fells, Border Leicester rams 

 being generally used. A Border Leicester ram is also 

 used on the Scotch Blackfaces which are in many 

 places established in the Lake District ; their progeny 

 almost attain to the dignity of a distinct breed, and 



