572 THE CATTLE, SIIEEP, &C. OF CORNWALL. 
about two or three pounds; and their mutton seldom fat, weighing 
from eight to ten pounds per quarter.” 
Another kind of sheep, which may be considered as crosses of 
the prevailing breed with the former or old Cornish, are to be 
found in great numbers upon the downs, heaths, and moors; they 
are a very hardy and active race, living out both in the summer 
and winter. Their mutton is well tasted, and the quarters weigji 
about two pounds each more than those of the former breed. 
They bear fleeces from two to four pounds each of moderate qua¬ 
lity ; and some of them have horns. Another species of sheep is 
found among the towans or sandy hillocks; their fleeces are equal 
to the South Down wool, and for sweetness of flesh no sheep in 
England can exceed. This quality is attributed partly to the 
sweetness of the pasture, and partly to the land being covered 
with myriads of small shell-snails, which they lick up with their 
tongues. 
We now come to the prevailing breed in the county, which 
may be considered as made up of crosses by introducing rams 
from Exmoor, Dartmoor, North and South Devon, Dorset, Glou¬ 
cester, and Leicester sorts. Thus numerous have been the expe¬ 
riments at different periods to improve the old Cornish sheep; but 
none have answered so well as the new Leicester or Dishley breed. 
On their first introduction, both farmers and butchers were pre¬ 
judiced against them ; but at this period, eitlier the pure Dishley 
or crosses with them, are found on every farm that will admit of 
“ MM 
them. 
The adaptation of animals to soils was never better consulted 
than by the introduction of this breed into Cornwall. They are 
easily distinguished from the other long-wooled breeds, by having 
more prominent and brighter eyes, finer and smaller heads, 
straighter, broader, and flatter backs, more capacity and depth 
of chest, rounder in their bodies, finer in their bones, and thinner 
in their pelts. With respect to their comparative value, the 
crosses of the new Leicester weigh from twenty to tw 7 enty-five 
pounds per quarter; some of them are much heavier, from twenty- 
five to thirty. The market town of Truro is famous for its fat 
mutton, which is fed in the neighbourhood : their long wools are 
eagerly sought after by the principal staplers, and sent into the 
north of England markets. The fleeces in the “ grease” weigh 
from seven to ten pounds each; some flocks average from seven 
to twelve pounds each. 
Diseases. ... . 
Mr. Carew observes that the Cornish sheep are freer from dis¬ 
ease than most others; the climate appears suitable to them, and 
