86 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



cities. Its fleece is coarse and weighs only about four to 

 five pounds, being of the class known as carpet wools. 



The marks of this sheep are black or mottled face and 

 legs; dun or broiwn patches are considered objectionable as 

 indication of impure blood and a less hardy constitution. 

 The nose is strong and prominent, but not so much arched as 

 that of the Cheviot; the nostrils are black and wide. The 

 horns of the rams are large and heavy, coming out level 

 with the top of the head, and not joining each other at the 

 base. They have one to two spiral turns as the age may be, 

 the curl being in a forward direction, but not protruding 

 towards the face. The ewe has small thin flattened horns 

 not spirally twisted. The ears are short and small. The 

 back is broad all over from the shoulder to the rump. The 

 tail is naturally short and is not cut. A wether fat from 

 pasture and three years old is considered the finest of all 

 mutton, the quarter weighing 16 to 18 Ibs. 



Its constitution is exceedingly hardy while on its moun- 

 tain pastures, where foot rot never occurs; but one fault 

 with this breed is that the wearing down of the hoof on its 

 rocky home has so increased the natural growth of horn that 

 when the sheep is moved to low land farms the foot becomes 

 soft and is addicted to foot rot. This fact should be consid- 

 ered by our shepherds, who might neglect this necessity 

 for paring the hoofs and so lead to disease in the flock. 



A few years ago the author found some of these sheep 

 on an Illinois farm, where it seemed at first thought to be as 

 much out of place as a codfish from the ocean. But so far 

 as could be learned the flock had thrived, and if it could so 

 far become acclimated to its new surroundings there, it 

 would certainly be a welcome addition to our stock. On the 

 mountains there is no question of its success, but the coarse, 

 light fleece might stand in the way of its profitable herding. 

 American flocks will scarcely pay to rear for wool alone, un- 

 less this is of the highest value, but with valuable mutton, 

 as this breed yields, the cheaper wool might not be any in- 

 superable objection to it, if the market could be found for 

 the mutton. The hardiness of the breed, however, makes it 

 a subject for due consideration as to the value of the breed 

 for crossing. 



