134 Sheep-Farming 



staple than in most of the Down breeds, which length 

 and compactness upon a rather close-made body gives 

 a distinctive appearance. In temperament, as might 

 be judged from the appearance of the head and 

 residence in the native hills, the sheep is lively and 

 quick, well adapted to an uneven country. 



The mutton- and wool-bearing qualities and the 

 uniqueness of its appearance have brought the sheep 

 to many American farms in which the topography 

 is in no way comparable to the Cheviot Hills. 



The Black-Faced Highland 



This breed has won and held the preference of 

 the sheep-raisers in the higher and more rugged lands 

 of Scotland, beyond the habitat of the Cheviot. It 

 is sometimes called the Black-Faced Heath breed, 

 as expressing its adaptability to the heath country 

 of sparser and coarser vegetation. It was also known 

 as the " short " breed in contrast to the " long " or 

 Cheviot breed. The original stock appears to have 

 entered from England about 1780, but as to its blood 

 lines prior to that time, nothing definite is recorded. 

 It has been brought to a high state of perfection by care- 

 ful breeding. Comparatively few are fattened upon 

 the farms where bred, being sold into the richer farm- 

 ing sections for that purpose. Their distinguishing 

 features are their short bodies, long, coarse, and some- 

 times hairy fleeces, and the black or broken colored 

 horned heads. The fleece is of the long-wool type. 



