The Sheep Stock of Gloucestershire. 39 
with, countries which have a great agricultural future before 
them. Canada and Russia are good patrons of the breed, and 
it is not a vain prediction that in the wide development which 
awaits the great north-west of Canada and the great north- 
east of Siberia, the Cotswold, which has proved itself an 
essentially cold-country sheep, will be required in large num- 
bers. In the United States, also a considerable exporter, the 
breed has been firmly established for sixty years or more. 
A return given in the Year Book of the United States Depart- 
ment of Agriculture for 1899 of the various American sheep- 
breeders’ associations, shows the number of registrations in 
the case of the Cotswolds to be 21,000, the highest of any 
breed. A considerable number of animals have also been 
exported of recent years to France and Spain. 
From the foregoing history of the breed and from the 
descriptions which have been quoted from contemporaneous 
authorities at various points in its history, a general impression 
of its characteristics will have been gathered, and it only 
remains to till in more in detail the chief points of the 
modern Cotswold with reference to its general appearance, 
show points, constitution, and capacity as a producer of wool 
and mutton. 
What perhaps most distinguishes the Cotswold from almost 
any other breed is its extraordinary bold carriage. The head, 
carried well up, on a finely turned and slightly arched neck, 
the ample forelock, full breast and bold, free walk, all contri- 
bute to give the Cotswold ram an imposing appearance. The 
head is of a fair length and remarkably clean-cut, with a 
deep, well-defined jaw. The muzzle ends squarely, not 
running to a point, and in the ram the bridge of the nose is 
wide and bold. The poll is covered with a forelock, more 
conspicuous than in any other breed, which falls well over 
the brow and nose. The eyes are large and dark ; the ears, 
which ai’e carried well up, are long and of a fair width, thin, 
not fleshy, and covered with fine close hair of a greyish colour, 
showing no shade of the pink flesh below. The back is 
straight and well carried-out to the rump, which however 
should not project too much, as is sometimes the case in older 
sheep. The ribs are well sprung, which gives the breadth of 
back so characteristic of the breed, and the covering of flesh 
throughout the whole course of the back should be so deep, 
firm and even that the hand of the judge should, in the case 
of a show sheep, have no suspicion of the framework beneath. 
Next to its bold head and fine carriage, the broad, firm, 
well-covered back of the Cotswold is its strongest and most 
distinguishing feature, and has particularly adapted it for 
improving the deficiencies of other breeds. 
