VARIOUS BREEDS OF SHEEP IN GREAT BRITAIN. 665 
improving system of farming, they are gradually being 
replaced by others possessing superior qualities, and at the 
same time sufficiently hardy in constitution to withstand the 
lower temperature and humidity of a mountainous country. 
The native breeds have but few qualities to recommend them; 
they are hardy, active animals, capable of finding a subsist- 
ence wherever they are placed, but they are very small in size, 
and produce but little wool, and that greatly deteriorated in 
value by the “ kemps” or hairs with which it is mixed. The 
higher mountain breed is horned, with black faces and legs, 
and sometimes with and sometimes without horns. They 
rarely weigh more than from 30 to 40 lb., even at four and five 
years old, and their wool produce may be taken at 1 to 1 J lb. 
each. The Radnorshire breed has assumed almost a distinct 
character; more attention has been paid both to the breeding 
and to the general cultivation of the animal. The size of the 
sheep is increased and its general character improved; the 
fleece is heavier, and the quality of the wool is seen by the 
comparative absence of the “ kempy” portions which lower 
the value of the mountain breed. Leicesters and South 
Downs are now met with on the rich cultivated lowlands of 
Wales, while the Cheviot and Highland breeds are seen 
gradually increasing even on the higher mountain districts of 
the Principality. The principal crosses are with the South 
Down and the Leicester breeds; these, upon the lowland 
farms, are very successful. 
(To be continued.) 
HYDROPHOBIA IN FRANCE. 
Hydrophobia in France. — From an inquiry instituted by the 
French Government it appears that, in 1852, no less than 
forty- eight cases of hydrophobia occurred in France, these 
being distributed over fourteen departments. Returns are 
now ordered to be made every year ; and one consequence of 
drawing attention to the subject has been the inundation of 
the government with infallible specifics. These have been 
handed over to the Academie de Medecine for examination, and 
M. Bouchardat, in a recent report, exposes their ridiculous 
pretensions. He observes that there is not one of these 
recipes which has not at some former epoch been brought 
forward, and allowed to fall into deserved oblivion. The 
authors of these communications must also be edified at 
learning that the arcana , which they flattered themselves they 
alone possessed, reach the government by different channels, 
and are, indeed, traceable to quite the infancy of art. 
