502 



The Herd wick Sheep. 



[Sept., 



the unique type of farm " let " — the general rule even to this 

 day; and not from any place name or physical peculiarity of the 

 sheep as with most other breeds. 



Origin. — The origin of the breed is obscure. Local legend 

 credits its origin to 40 small sheep washed ashore from a 

 Spanish ship wrecked on the Cumberland coast at the time of the 

 Armada, and which, becoming the property of the Lord of the 

 Manor and being found to suit the high bare lands in the neigh- 

 bourhood, were apportioned to local farmers. The mode of farm 

 " let " still commonest, viz,, that of a flock of sheep " the heaf 

 going flock " being let along with the land lends some support 

 to this legend. Careful investigation, however, reveals the fact 

 that a Spanish breed resembling Herdwicks in any character, 

 did not then exist, and it is more likely that the breed is of 

 Scandinavian origin, where hardiness would be a characteristic. 

 The Herd wick country is rich in evidence of Norse occupation, 

 " garths " and " holms " and " bys " predominating as place 

 names. The theory of the Scandinavian origin is further sub- 

 t^tantiated by a method of scoring used among ITerdwick men 

 within the memory of man. The numbers used varied locally, 

 but the following appears to have been the commonest : — 



1. Yen. 



2. Taen. 



3. Tedderte. 



4. Meddert. 



6. Haata. 11. Yan a dick. j 16. Yan a Mimph. 



7. Slaata. 12. Taen a dick. 17. Taen a Mimpli. 



8. Loura. 13. Tedder a dick. 18. Tedder a Mimph. 



9. Dowra. 14. Medder a dick. , 19. Medder a Mimph. 

 5. Pimp. i 10. Dick. 15. Mimph. 20. Gigget. 



Description. — The Herdwick looks what it is, a hardy moun- 

 tain sheep. The activity required to make a living on the snow- 

 covered Fells, and a coat to withstand the rigours of those 

 high altitudes in winter, indicates a smallish, active, rough- 

 coated sheep. A touch of the demerits of its ancient lineage and 

 a suggestion of the primitive are discernible. 



The characteristics of a good Herdwick are a coat of long, 

 well-knit broad wool grown well out at the extremities, standing 

 up round the neck in a good mane, and covering the top of the 

 head. The head should be carried high — the nose arched, and 

 the eyes prominent and well developed. The face should be grey 

 or rimy (hoar frost appearance). Spotted legs and faces are 

 inadmissible, but dark coloured sheep generally show best con- 

 stitution. The lambs are born a good black and white, the head, 

 legs and neck being black, the rest of the body white. As they 

 grow older the dark colour changes to a light grey. The ears 

 are white, sharp and active. The body is round and deep, the 

 chest wide and prominent. The legs are short from knee to 



