36 
THE SHEEP. 
THE DORSET BREED. 
The Dorset Breed extends to the rich and beautiful county of Somerset, where it is now reared in greater numbers than in 
Dorsetshire itself. It here exhibits, however, some difference of character. It is distinguished from the true Dorset by the colour of the 
nose, which is of a fleshy or pink colour, resembling that of the Merino. The Pink-nosed Somerset is larger than the Black-nosed 
Dorset, and of lanker form. The wool is somewhat longer, but nearly of the same fineness. The wethers when fattened attain 
to greater weight, and the lambs are larger. The Dorsets, however, are considered as exhibiting the characters proper to the 
females in greater perfection. In the case of the Somersets, the usual period of admitting the males to the females is about the 
10th of May, so that the ewes may lamb in September or early in October. 
In both of these counties, especially in Dorsetshire, the Southdowns have been making continual progress, either being sub¬ 
stituted for the native races, or being employed to cross them. They are better suited than the Leicesters to mingle with the 
Dorset race, producing well-formed animals, and increasing the value of the fleece. 
The numerous varieties of the same group which inhabited the older commons are now nearly extinct, although traces of the 
characteristic form may still be observed in certain places. One variety, however, is still to be found in a state of purity. It in¬ 
habits the Isle of Portland, where it has been kept unmixed for an unknown period. These little Sheep have horns in the male and 
female. They are gentle and of good form. They have a tinge of dun on the face and legs. Their wool, like that of the Dorsets, 
is of medium fineness, weighing about two pounds the fleece. They are washed, before being shorn, in the salt pools left on the 
shores by the returning tide. Their mutton is exceedingly delicate, and the wethers, when fat, at two years and four months old, 
weigh from ten to twelve pounds the quarter. 
The climate of the Isle of Portland is moist, and the natural herbage is largely mixed with wild thyme. The number of 
Sheep in the island amounts to about 4000. Some years ago a flock of them was taken to the Derby hills by Sir George 
Crewe, M. P,, and it is said that they supported well this change of climate and situation. No purpose, however, of economical 
utility can be served by carrying this curious race beyond the narrow limits where it has acquired the characters which are proper 
to it. 
