eiafsl. SHEEP. 25 



remarkably fine fleeces ; the LincoInJIoire and JVar- 

 wickfhire kind, which are very large, exceed any for 

 the quantity 'and goodnefs of their wool. The for- 

 mer county yiekls the largefl fheep in thefe iflands, 

 where it is no uncommon thing to give fifty guineas 

 for a ram, and a guinea for the admiffion of a ewe to 

 one of the vakiable maks ; or twenty guineas for the 

 ufe of it for a certain number of ewes during one 

 feafon, Suffolk alfo breeds a very valuable kind. 

 The fleeces of the northern parts of this kingdorq 

 are inferior in finenefs to thofe of the fouth •, but 

 ftill are of great value in diff'erent branches of our 

 ^anufadlures. The Torkfiire hills furnifli the looms 

 of that county with large quantities of wool ; and 

 that which is taken from the neck and fhoulders, 

 is ufed (mixed with ^amjlo wool) in fome of their 

 fineft cloths. 



Wales yields but a coarfe wool ; yet is of more 

 cxtenfive ufe than the fined Segovian fleeces j for ricl\ 

 and poor, age and youth, health and infirmities, all 

 confefs the univerfal benefit of the flannel manu^ 

 ladure. 



The fheep of Ireland vary like thofe of Great- 

 ^riiain. Thofe of the fouth and eafl being large, 

 and their flefh rank. Thofe of the north, and tha 

 mountainous parts fmall, and their flefh fweet. The 

 lleeces in the fame manner differ in degrees of value. 



Scotland breeds a fmall kind, and their fleeces are, 

 coarfe. Sihbald (after Bocthius) fpeaks of a breed in. 

 the ifle of Rona^ covered with blue wool ; of ano- 

 ther kind in the ifle of Hirta, larger than the biggeft- 

 be goaf, with tails hanging almoft to the ground^ 



and 



