SHEEP. 



VVeftmorcland, Cumberland, Yorkfliire, and thofe in the 

 fouth, well, and north of Scotland, and in the Shetland 

 iflands ; the Cheviot hills, in the fouth of Scotland and 

 north of England ; and the foreft and common (heep of 

 the laft-mentioned country. In the fecond divilion are in- 

 cluded thofe of Hereford, Dorfet, SuJiex, Norfolk, and 

 fome parts of Cumberland. Ai'd the third divifion com- 

 prehends all thofe varieties that are difperfed over the more 

 rich and fertile parts of England, and wiiich are diitin- 



guifhed under the titles of the Durham or Tecfwaters, the 

 Lincohiihires, the old and new Leicclterfliire?, &c. 



But others divide them into long,Jhort, and m'tddle-'woolkd 

 kinds. 



A..d a dill more clear and concife view of the va- 

 rious breeds of Biitiih iheep, is afforded in the tabular 

 form given by Mr. CuUey, as enlarged and corrected 

 by the author of the " General Treatife on Cattle," and 

 others. 



Table of the Breeds or Varieties of Sheep in England. 



Wci-ht 

 of Fleece. 



W eil.ers 

 ptr Quar. 



kilted. 



I 



White face and legs. 

 White face and legs. 

 White face and legs. 

 White face and legs. 

 White face and legs. 

 White face and legs. 

 White face and legs. 

 Black face and legs. 

 White face and legs. 

 Black and fpeckled. 

 White and fpeckled. 

 White and fpeckled. 

 Black and white. 

 Speckled and white. 

 Black and white. 

 Speckled and white. 

 White face and legs. 

 Dun face and legs. 

 Various coloured ditto. 

 White. 



Lonjj wool. 

 Long wool. 

 Long wool (fine). 

 Long wool (fine). 

 Long wool (fine). 

 Long wool (fine). 

 Long wool (coarfe). 

 Long wool (coarfe). 

 Short wool (fine). 

 Short wool (fine). 

 Short wool (fine). 

 Short (mid.) 

 Long wool. 

 Short wool. 

 Short wool. 

 Short wool. 

 Short wool. 

 Short wool. 

 Fuie cottony. 

 Short wool i^fuper.) 

 Ditto fine. 



9lb. 

 II 

 8 



9 



8 



9 

 6 



3 



3 



7 



^h 



? 



2 



3 



>l 

 If 

 3i 



3olb. 



22 



24 

 22 



25 



r6 

 15 



14 

 12 

 18 

 20 

 18 

 18 

 18 

 10 

 16 



7 

 8 



14 

 16 



2 year; 



2 

 2 

 2 



3^ 



34 



2 



I. 

 •'2 



2 



zh 



4i 

 44 

 44 

 44 

 24 



There are a few other breeds met with in different dif- 

 trifts, as noticed below. 



Since it is found by the grazier that the more an animal 

 approaches towards perfeftion in its form, the better, in 

 general, it is adapted to the purpofe of fattening ; it is 

 obviouny a matter of much importance to be well ac- 

 quainted with the peculiar diipofition and conneftion of 

 parts which conrtitute fuch excellence or perfeftion of 

 form : thofe have been already fully explained in fpeaking 

 of the nature and principles of breeding animals, as well as 

 in confidering the nature and management of cattle. And 

 the fame thing is to be aimed at in fheep-llock ; as the more 

 any breed may approximate to fuch an excellence of fhape, 

 the more perfect it muft be. A fort of model to be aimed 

 at, in fo far as fhape is concerned, in the improvement of thefe 

 animals, due attention beine always har' to other properties, 

 has been given by Mr. CuUey, in liis defcription of a ram, 

 and which may be feen under that head. (See Ra.m.) 

 The nature and combination of the various points and 

 parts fhould, of courfe, be well underftood and imprefled 

 on the mind of the breeding and grazing farmer, in order 

 that he may always rear or procure thefe animals to the 

 greateft advantage. 



The varieties of this mo'l ufeful animal are endowed with 

 different partlcul<<r qualities, properties, powers, and pro- 

 penfities, which it is neceflary to afcertain, in order for the 

 farmer to d''a'.v and produce the ulmofl advantage poffible 

 ^rom the combiuing, croffing, and rearing of thera. All 



the breeds of fheep are the moil diftinft while they are . 

 kept or left in the Itate of nature. 



The common and ufual defcriptions of the feveral breeds 

 are the following : 



Teefwater Breed or Variety. — This is a breed of fheep faid 

 to be the largelt in the ifland ; it is at prefent themoft preva- 

 lent in the rich, fine, fertile, inclofed lands on the banks of the 

 Tees in Yorkfhire. In this breed, which is fuppofed to be 

 from the fame (lock as thofe of the Liiicolns, greater atten- 

 tion feems to have been paid to fize than wool. It is, how- 

 ever, a breed only calculated for warm rich paftures, wlicre 

 they are kept in fmall lots, in fmall inclofures, and well iup- 

 ported with food in fevere winter feafons. The produce in 

 weight of mutton is large, but then, from their requiring fa 

 much longer time and richer keep, and being admitted in fo 

 much fmaller proportions on the acre, they are probably not, 

 upon the whole, fo profitable, even in fituations where they 

 can be kept with the greatefl chance of fuccefs, as the 

 fmaller more quick-feeding breeds. In the ewes there is, 

 however, a property which is of much confequence, 

 which is, that in general they are very prolific, bringing 

 two and frequently three lambs, and in fome cafci 

 a greater number each, according to Mr. Culley. He 

 gives the following defcription of the breed. The legs are 

 longer, finer boned, and fupport a thicker and more firm 

 and heavy carcafe than the Lincolnfhires ; the fheep are 

 much wider on the backs and fides, and afford a fatter and 

 finer grained mutton. The weight per quarter in two-years 



old 



