108 VARIOUS BREEDS OF SHEEP IN GREAT BRITAIN. 
in carcase or in wool, for centuries past. The sheep are 
generally polled ; sometimes they have small short horns, set 
wide at their base, more resembling those of a goat than a 
sheep ; the tail is short and very broad, the body rather long, 
the legs short, with fine bone and strong broad hoofs ; the 
head narrow and well set on. A peculiarity of the breed is, 
that when their food becomes scarce they at once resort to 
the sea-coast, and, following the ebbing tide, seek their sup- 
plies from the seaweeds with which the shores abound. This 
gives to their flesh a peculiar flavour, which, combined with 
the absence of attention to breeding management, renders 
the meat of a very indifferent quality. The fleece, which 
constitutes the chief value of the breed, is of various colours, 
white, black, gray, and brown. Like the covering of other 
animals exposed to extremes of climate, it consists both of 
wool and of hair — the one securing the natural heat of the 
animal, the other being more adapted as a protection against 
the rain and general humidity of the climate. This hair, 
locally termed 44 scudda,” grows through the wool, and in the 
winter forms the outer surface. As the season advances, the 
wool, the true fleece, becomes detached from the skin, and is 
then picked off by hand, the sheep being all driven up to- 
gether for the operation, the hairy portion remaining as a 
protection to the animal against the weather. The wool has 
peculiar characters which render it admirably suited for fine 
hosiery purposes, but, being deficient in felting properties, it 
is not adapted for combing; about li lb. is obtained from 
each animal. Within the last few years the increased com- 
munication between these islands and the mainland has led 
to the introduction of Cheviot and other sheep, which, by 
judicious crossing, must tend shortly to the improvement of 
the native breed. 
