ORDER RUMINANTIA. 337 



straight, from which the ribs must rise with a fine circular 

 arch ; his belly straight ; the quarters long and full, with 

 the mutton quite down to the hough, which should neither 

 stand in nor out; his twist deep, wide, and full, which, 

 with the broad breast, will keep his fore-legs open and up- 

 right ; the whole body covered with thin pelt, and that 

 with fine bright soft wool. The nearer any breed of sheep 

 come up to the above description, the more they approach 

 towards excellence of form." 



In the Ancient race or Black-faced heath breed, the Rams 

 have horns more contorted than the Merinos. The female 

 is with or without horns. The face and legs are black, or 

 spotted with black ; the tail very long, and they have a 

 coarse shaggy wool extended over the forehead and nether 

 jaw ; their eyes have a fiery wild aspect ; they run with 

 great facility among the heathy mountains, and their flesh 

 is peculiarly fine and high-flavoured. This race, usually 

 termed Short Sheep, though now greatly absorbed in the 

 following, still exists in the north-west of Yorkshire, as 

 far as Fort William in Scotland, in Northumberland, and 

 Westmoreland ; but the improving system extending over 

 this breed a more elegant form, more slender limbs, and 

 very fine wool, has been obtained, without impairing their 

 hardihood, or the quality of the mutton. They carry from 

 three to four pounds of wool. 



The Norfolk Sheep retain, in their large spiral horns and 

 black faces, the marks of originating from the heath ; they 

 have long dark or gray legs, and large bones ; the carcass 

 is long, small, thin, and weak; the wool is short and fine, 

 from one and three-quarters to two pounds per fleece. 

 This breed has a voracious appetite, and a restless dispo- 

 sition ; they are good travellers, but not so valuable as 

 others. Norfolk and Suffolk rear them. 



The next is the Dorset, probably also derived from the 

 ancient stock, without the black, colour on the face and 



