230 
The various Breeds of Sheej) in Great Britain. 
centuries past. Like most of the old indigenous breeds of the 
country it has gradually been displaced by tlie improved breeds, 
and now it is very difficult to find the pure Bampton unmixed 
with other blood ; a few only remaining in Devonshire and 
West Somerset. They are usually met with crossed with tlie 
Leicester breed and very much resembling them in shape, though 
somewhat larger in size and hardly so fine in general characters. 
They are without horns and with wliite clean faces and legs ; 
they are hardy, but require good pasture. At two years old, if 
well kept, they average 120 to 150 lbs. each. The meat is juicy, 
but like that of all large sheep, inferior in quality to the smaller 
breeds. The wool produce is good ; the fleece, averaging 7 lbs., 
is rather coarse in quality. They are now so intermixed with 
Leicester blood as to partake more of the character of that breed 
than of the old stock. Crosses with Lincolnshire and with the 
Exmoor breed are also met with. 
Herdwicks. — This breed is confined to the mountain districts 
of Cumberland and Westmoreland, where it enjoys the reputation 
of a hardy and profitable animal, well adapted for the rough and 
bleak country in which it is kept. The sheep are without horns, 
and have generally speckled or mottled faces and legs, which 
become gradually greyish or white as the age of the animal 
increases. The fleece weighs about 3 to 4 lbs. The wool is 
coarse and open. On the shoulders and neck it becomes matted 
and kempy, and is only fit for the common description of goods, 
as rugs, coarse woollens, &c. When left on the hill pasturage 
the wethers generally remain until they are four or five years old 
before they are fit for the butcher ; they then average from 40 to 
50 lbs. each. The quality of the meat is first-rate and always 
commands a good price. The ewes are good mothers and pro- 
duce generally fine strong lambs. They display great sagacity 
on the approach of snow-storms in choosing situations free from 
the danger of deep drifts. When the storm reaches them they 
seek the most exposed part of the mountain, which by the 
violence of the wind is usually swept clear of snow, and here 
they remain herded together until the storm has passed, taking 
care to keep up a continual movement, and thus to trample down 
the snow as it falls. They possess also the peculiar feature for a 
mountain breed, that they remain attached to a partic ular spot or 
locality, and rarely are met with straying far away from it. 
Intermediate. 
Dorset. — This is a breed peculiar to a certain district in the 
south of England, where it has been preserved for a very long 
period. Both male and female possess horns ; they have white 
legs and faces, the face long and broad witli a tuft of wool on the 
