The various Breeds of Sheep in Great Britain. 231 
forehead ; the nose and lips black ; shoulders low, witli straij^ht 
back and good brisket ; the loins broad and deep ; legs somewhat 
long, but with small bone. A breed exists in Somersetshire hav- 
ing tlic general character of the Dorset, with the exception of the 
coloured noses and lips ; these are of a j)ijikish hue, and the breed 
is known as the " Pink-nosed Somersets." The Dorsets possess, 
as tlieir frame would indicate, the physical characters of a hardy, 
useful breed; they are very quiet and docile, and readily adapt 
themselves to the different modes of management to which they 
are subjected. They thrive well on moderate keep, arrive at 
maturity early, and will feed on turnips up to 80 to 100 lbs. 
weight at two years old. The peculiar characteristic of the 
breed, which indeed constitutes its principal value, is the 
fecundity of the females, and their readiness to receive the male 
at an early season. If well kept and in good condition, this 
takes place as early as April ; thus the yeaning commences in 
September, and the lambs are fit for the market by Christmas, at 
wliich time of the year they fetch a very high price. Some addi- 
tional care and feeding are of course required. The ewes, how- 
ever, are excellent mothers, giving a large supply of nutritious 
milk, while at the same time they are again ready to take the 
ram and become impregnated while rearing their early ofrsj)ring. 
The fleece is close and heavy, with a staple of moderate length ; 
the average weight may be taken at 6 lbs. 
The practice of crossing with the South Down is becoming 
very general, especially when only lambs are desired ; these are 
shorn and produce from 1^ to 2 lbs. of wool each, which fetches 
always a higher price than the "teg" wool. For store sheep it 
is a valuable cross, the produce feeds better, grows to a good size, 
and yields a finer and heavier fleece than the pure Dorset. 
Cheviots. — The long line of hills, the Cheviots, traversing the 
border counties of England and Scotland, have given their name 
to a breed of sheep which seem to occupy an intermediate posi- 
tion between the Black-faced breed of the Highlands and the 
more cultivated flocks of the lowlands and of the south. These 
sheep are without horns ; their heads and legs are white in 
colour — sometimes, but rarely, dun or speckled ; the face good, 
with lively eyes ; the body rather long, on clean, fine legs ; the 
neck and fore quarter, like those of all mountain bi'eeds, are rather 
light. These, by judic ious breeding and management, have been 
considerably improved of late years. They are exceedingly 
hardy, and although possessing all the vigour and constitution of 
a mountain breed exhibit none of their restless habits, and sub- 
mit with great docility to the restraint of the lowland farms. 
The natural pasture of the Cheviot range is very good and nutri- 
tious, and has aided in the development of a larger-framed 
