10 
THE SHEEP. 
BREED OF THE HIGHER WELSH MOUNTAINS. 
As this race becomes naturalized in a lower range of mountains, or in any way is placed under more favourable circumstances 
with respect to the supplies of food, it becomes enlarged in size, and loses part of its natural rudeness. Accordingly gradations are 
observed in the character of the race, from the more elevated and barren mountains, to those which are of a lesser altitude, or 
more productive of herbage. The Sheep of Radnor and some other parts are of the same descent, but are so changed by the 
more favourable circumstances under which they are reared, that they are looked upon as distinct breeds. They have manifestly, 
however, a common origin with the wilder Sheep of the higher mountains. The examples in the Plate will show the progressive 
steps by which the wilder race may assume a new set of characters, in consequence of better food and attention to the parents in 
breeding : and the example of the old Radnor in the following Plate will show the formation of a breed from the gradual operation 
of the same causes. All the varieties of the Welsh Sheep which have an affinity with the race of the higher mountains have 
horns, and have more or less of black hair on the face and legs. 
This wildest of the races of Sheep in Wales is susceptible of improvement; but to accomplish this to the required degree, a 
long course of selection, combined with a proper practice with respect to feeding, is required. But this wilder breed presents no 
characters which can render it expedient to expend time and capital in cultivating it in preference to others already formed. 
The basis is bad, and the interests of breeders will be served, either by substituting at once a superior breed, or by crossing the 
native race until one with better properties has been produced. Two races of improved Sheep exist in this country, which might 
either supplant the existing races of the Welsh mountains, or be employed for crossing until a new class of properties were produced. 
These are the Southdown and the Cheviot breeds. The Southdown is rather suited to a dry than a moist climate, and its natural 
habitat is not similar to the humid soils of Wales. It is conceived, therefore, that the Cheviot breed, though inferior as a breed 
to the Southdown, presents a combination of properties which may adapt it better to this part of the country. It is, in all useful 
properties, vastly superior to the indigenous race, and has already been acclimated in countries more elevated and inhospitable than 
the highest ranges of the mountains of Wales. 
