286 
NATURAL HISTORY 
CHAP. XXV. 
Of Quadrupeds. 
sECT.L’rpHE flieep of Cornwall in ancient times were remarkably 
Sheep. ' J_ fmall, and their fleeces fo coarfe that their wool bare no 
better title than that of Cornifli hair, and under that name the 
cloth made of that wool was allowed to be exported without being 
fubjetft to the cuftomary duty paid for woollen- cloth. When cul- 
tivation began to take place, and the cattle to improve in flze and 
goodnefs, the Cornifli had the fame privilege w confirmed to them 
by grant from Edward the Black Prince (firft Duke of Cornwall 
after the Norman conqueft) in confideration of their paying four 
fhillings for every hundred weight of white tin coined j the fame 
privilege of exporting cloth of Cornifli manufactm e duty-free, was 
confirmed to them by the twenty-firft of Elizabeth . At prefent 
the eaftern parts of the county finding themlelves under a necefiity 
(from the fcarcity of tin) of applying themfelves to tillage and pai- 
ture, from the rivers Alan and Fawy eaftward have as laige and 
fine-woolled fiieep as any where in England, and the common 
people wafli, card, and fpin their own wool, and bring their yarn 
to markets y . In the neighbourhood of St. Columb, in Rofland, 
and St. Kevern, their fheep are large, and bring a great price, but 
the fweeteft mutton is reckoned to be that of the fmallefl: flieep, 
which ufually feed on the commons where the fands are fcarce 
covered with the green-fod, and the grafs exceedingly fliort ; fuch 
are the towens or land-hillocks in Piran-land, Gwythien, ^ Philac, 
and Senan-green near the Land s-End, and elfewhere in like fitu- 
ations. From thefe fands come forth fnails of the turbinated kind, 
but of different J pecks , and all fizes from the adult to the fmallefl; 
juft from the egg ; thefe fpread themfelves over the plains early in 
the morning, and whilft they are in queft of their own food among 
the dews, yield a moft fatning nourilhment to the flieep. 
In fome of the hilly, rocky diftri&s, we have goats, the kids 
of which fatten in their feafon without trouble, and are brought to 
market. 
sect. ii. In coarfe grounds the black-cattle are fmall, and live moffly y efpe- 
Black-cattle. dally in the fummer months) upon the heath and furze; but in 
large tenements where the foil is improved, and the owner chufes to 
w Which they had before, “ from auncientie,” x Camden’s Annot. page 8. 
fays Mr. Carew, page 24. 1 At Lancefton, Camelford, &c. 
breed 
