626 SHEEP 



Leicester has a bluish-white face, whereas the Border Leicester's face is clear 

 white. In carcass the Border Leicester is the larger and longer, and the belly 

 is not quite so full in outline, being carried rather more lightly. 



It may also be added that the flesh at the nose is black, that spots 

 frequently occur in the white hair on head and ear, and that this 

 is a heavier, more leggy type than the Bakewell Leicester. 



Border Leicester rams crossed on Cheviot ewes make a cross 

 which has long met with much favor in the British market. In 

 the hill country the half-breds and three-quarter-breds feed ex- 

 tremely well on rather scant fare and produce a strictly choice 



Fig. 296. A group of Border Leicester yearling rams owned by J. R. C. Smith, 

 Scotland. From photograph, by courtesy of the owner 



mutton. Each year in the hill country between Scotland and 

 England large numbers of crossbred sheep of this stock find their 

 way into the best British trade. 



The prices paid for Leicester sheep have reached very respectable 

 heights. In 19 14 a Border Leicester ram sold in Scotland for 

 about ^1500. At the Kelso (Scotland) ram sales in September, 

 19 1 6, a yearling Border Leicester ram brought ;^i 1 50, and 1 2 head 

 brought an average of ^360. In 19 16, at the Little Dreffield Fair 

 in England, 144 yearling Leicester rams brought prices ranging 

 from $52 to ^136 per head. In 1917 J. D. Hay sold at Ayr, 

 Scotland, 166 Border Leicesters for an average of ^i 10 per head, 

 and the three-year-old ram King David brought ^850. Finally, 

 in 1919, a Border Leicester ram sold at the Kelso auction for 

 about ^3000 {£600), and a yearling bred by D. P. Elliott sold to 

 John Stewart for about $1400 (;£28o). 



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