lie^orl on the Sheep Exhihiied id Windsor. G97 
certain sandy tracts (whence its name) formerly devoted to 
the production of rye, situated to the south of the river 
Wye. The wool of this breed was long considered the finest 
produced in the British Isles — a character, indeed, which it 
might even yet merit. Its mutton, too, is of excellent quality 
and flavour. Its diminutive size, however, and its deficiency in 
economical value when compared with other improved breeds, 
have led to its decrease in favour. At the Worcester Show in 
1863 the Stewards reported that "the Ryeland sheep shown on 
this occasion were a very good specimen of a breed now almost 
extinct, but which were formerly in great favour in Hereford." 
At AVindsor fifteen entries — representing only two flocks — 
were made, and all the prizes were won by Mr. Frank Shepherd. 
Dartmoors and Exmoors. 
The fair county of Devon has the unusual honour of sup- 
porting four distinct breeds of sheep — the Exmoors in the 
north, the Devon Long-wools and South Devons in the south, 
and the Dartmoors in the middle. Both Exmoors and Dart- 
moors are among the few survivors of the forest and mountain 
breeds which once ranged over the greater part of the country. 
Except that the Exmoors are the smaller, there is a good deal 
of family likeness in the two breeds. Both have been very much 
improved during the past half-century. Attempts have been 
made to supplant them, but both breeds continue to hold their 
own as best suited to their native districts. In the Report on 
the Battersea Show of 1862 ' it was noted that few sheep had 
been more improved than the Exmoors during the previous 
thirty years. 
There were twelve entries of Dartmoors and twenty of 
Exmoors at Windsor. Messrs. James Drew and J. and I. B. 
Yelland took the prizes for the former, and Lord Poltimore, Sir 
William Williams, Mr. E. J. Stanley, M.P., and Mr. John Jones 
for the latter. 
Report of the Judges of Somerset and Dorset Horned (Classes 193 to 
196), Devon Long-wool (Classes 200 to 202), Ryeland (Classes 
203 to 205), Dartmoor (Classes 206 to 208), and Exmoor Sheep 
(Classes 209 to 211). 
Somerset and Dokset Horned, 
Class 193. Rams Two-shear and upwards. — Fairly represented. 
Class 194. Shearlwg Rams. — Very good Class, well represented, the two 
leading Prizes possessint^ great merit. 
' Journal, Vol. XXIII. 1st Series (1862), p. 392. 
