114 THE SHEEP AND ITS COUSINS 



the dry climate of the eastern states is ill-suited to 

 such large sheep ; but in the Argentine it is highly 

 esteemed, very big prices being paid for pedigree 

 rams. 



The low-lying district of Romney Marsh, in 

 Kent, which presents much resemblance in physical 

 conditions and climate to Holland, has given its 

 name to an ancient breed of long-woolled, hornless 

 sheep. Originally these sheep were of a large, 

 coarse, long-legged, and flat-sided type ; but the 

 introduction, during the early part of the nineteenth 

 century, of new Leicesters resulted in the production 

 of a breed which could scarcely be recognised as the 

 descendants of the old stock, although it still shows 

 traces of coarseness and lankiness. One effect of 

 the cross was to reduce the bodily size, while a 

 second was to produce greater compactness of form 

 and a better quality of mutton. It is not easy to 

 point out features by which these sheep can be dis- 

 tinguished at a glance from other long-woolled types ; 

 but it may be mentioned that the forehead may be 

 almost bare of wool, or may carry a considerable 

 forelock. The great advantage claimed for the 

 Romney Marsh sheep is its alleged immunity from 

 foot-rot when reared on wet ground ; and for this 

 reason it has been cultivated to .some extent in the 

 low-lying districts of the south-east of England 

 other than its native county. It has not, however, 

 attained much favour abroad, except in Australia 



