304 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 
1806, their flock, through that of Compton of Learmouth, 
supplied a part of the Mertoun flock of Lord Polworth. 
This flock has been bred with the greatest care since 1802, 
and by judicious selection and without outside blood has 
been made the premier flock of the breed. 
The Border breed has a white face, free from wool. The 
English Leicester may have a small tuft, and may be 
bluish white in color. At one time, blue faces were in 
fashion. The head and eye are important points in a 
quick-feeding animal. ‘‘ Never pick a rascally head and 
a bad eye,’’ no matter what the carcass may be, is the ad- 
vice of a famous breeder. 
428. Uses of Leicester sheep. — The Leicesters are 
used very much for crossing purposes, to get early lambs 
for the market. Having been bred more for mutton than 
-for wool, the breed has so far not been so widely distributed 
in America as its good qualities deserve. Of late years, 
however, the market for fat lambs has become a feature, 
and there is now more demand for the Leicester for cross- 
breeding. For mutton alone, the breed is inferior. It is 
too large and too fat, unless killed young. The cross-bred 
mutton on Hampshires or Merinos is superior to the pure- 
bred. The Border Leicester-Cheviot cross has found 
much favor for the production of choice mutton for the 
British market. 
The wool of the Leicester is fine and long, and the fleeces 
will weigh nine to eleven pounds. Fine-wool rams on 
grade Leicester ewes produce a fine, compact fleece that is 
heavier than that of the Leicester pure-bred. 
For grazing, the Leicester is in no way superior. It is 
not specially hardy, and cannot rustle sufficiently well to 
adapt it to much of the range lands. 
429. Distribution. — The Leicesters are at home in 
