( ) 
— The Injluence of Climate and Hereditary Character upon 
Sheep. By Professor Tanner. 
In a previous communication to this Journal I have drawn 
attention to the principles which should regulate the breeding of 
farm stock according as the purity of breed, the production 
of milk, or the formation of meat, may be the object to be 
attained. In a subsequent paper t I continued the subject by 
some remarks upon the reproductive powers of domesticated 
animals, more particularly with reference to those unhealthy 
conditions of animal life which cause much trouble to stock- 
masters by barrenness in its several classes and degrees. I pro- 
pose in the present paper to notice some of those systems of 
management under which these difficulties are avoided, and 
to point out the causes which contribute so powerfully to this 
result. 
Our mountain breeds of cattle and sheep offer the best 
examples of that healthy condition of animal life which is alike 
a preservative against disease, and the source of that vital energy 
so necessary to be engrafted upon our various improved breeds 
of farm stock. In order to judge fairly of these animals we 
must notice the circumstances under which they are reared, and 
their respective vital conditions. The principles which regulate 
the distribution and development of animal life are full of 
interest, and the regularity with which they act cannot fail to 
arrest our attention ; for in whatever part of the globe inquiry 
may be instituted, influences will be found in operation similar 
to those observable within our more limited sphere, but the 
results are more striking because of the greater variations of 
climate and the general habits of life. Above the hilly ranges 
on which cattle graze are generally others of higher level and 
more rugged character to which the class of stock, accustomed 
to mountain sides, dare not ascend. On the scanty vegetation 
of these higher levels sheep and goats feed, and they become 
almost as wild as if they had never experienced the care of man. 
Little, indeed, is done for them during the summer and autumn 
months beyond supplying them with their periodical allowance 
of salt, and yet this vegetation, which is almost inaccessible, 
becomes a source of profit by its conversion into coarse wool and 
fine mutton. 
Observation limited to our own country will disclose to us 
along the western coasts of England and Wales a bold and 
* 'Journal of tloyal Agricultural Society,' vol. xxii. p. 1. 
t Ibid., vol. i. p. 262, second scries. 
