greater sagacity than the Sheep; nor does any domestic animal shew more dexterity and cunning in its attempts to elude the vigilance of the shepherd, in order to steal such delicacies as are agreeable to its palate.

Besides its hardiness in enduring great severities of weather, the natural instinct of the Sheep, in foreseeing the approach of a storm, is no less remarkable in their endeavours to secure themselves under the shelter of some hill, whole flocks have frequently been buried for many days under a covering of snow, and have afterwards been taken out without any material injury. Thus beautifully described by Thomson :

"Oft the whirlwind's wing

"Sweeps up the burthen of whole wintry plains
"At one wide waft; and o'er the hapless flocks,
"Hid in the hollow of two neighbouring hills,

"The billowy tempest whelms.".

There have been instances where Sheep, at the approach of a storm, have fled for shelter to a neighbouring cottage, and taken refuge with their shepherd.

The variety in this creature is so great, that scarcely any two countries produce Sheep of the same kind: there is found a manifest difference in all, either in the size, the covering, the shape, or the horns.

The woolly Sheep is found only in Europe, and in the temperate provinces of Asia. When transported into warmer climates, it loses its wool, and becomes hairy and rough; it is likewise less fertile; and its flesh no longer retains the same flavour.

No country produces finer Sheep than Great Britain: their fleeces are large, and well adapted to the various purposes of cloathing. The Spanish fleeces are indeed

finer, but stand in no degree of comparison with those of Lincolnshire or Warwickshire for weight or utility. In Edward the Third's time, when wool was allowed to be exported, it brought 150,0001. per annum, at 21. 10s. a pack, which was a great sum in those days. At this time, when our woollen manufactory stands unrivalled by any nation in the world, and every method is taken to prevent this valuable commodity from being sent out of the kingdom, the annual value of wool, shorn in England, is supposed to be about five millions sterling; and when manufactured conjointly with the Spanish wool imported, amounting to about six hundred thousand pounds, must be above twenty millions.

Like other ruminating animals, the Sheep wants the upper fore teeth: it has eight in the lower jaw; two of which drop out, and are replaced at two years old; four. of them are renewed at three years, and the remainder at the age of four.

The Ewe produces one or two lambs at a time, and sometimes, though rarely, three or four. She bears her young five months, and brings forth in the spring. The Ram lives to the age of about fifteen years, and begins to procreate at one. When castrated, they are called Wedders they then grow sooner fat, and the flesh becomes finer and better flavoured.

There is hardly any part of this animal that is not serviceable to man of the fleece we make our cloaths; the skin produces leather, of which are made gloves, parchment, and covers for books; the entrails are formed into strings for fiddles and other musical instruments, likewise coverings for whips; its milk affords both butter and cheese; and its flesh is a delicate and wholesome food.

The following remarks, taken from Mr Culley's "Observations on Live Stock," will not be unacceptable to many of our readers, as they convey a just idea of some of the most noted kinds of Sheep at this time in the island. He begins with those of Lincolnshire, which are of a large size, big-boned, and afford a greater quantity of wool than any other kind, owing to the rich, fat marshes on which they feed; but their flesh is coarse, leaner, and not so finely flavoured as that of smaller Sheep. The same breed extends, with some variations, through most of the midland counties of England. The Dorsetshire breed is likewise remarkably prolific, the Ewes being capable of bringing forth twice a year. It is from these that the tables of our nobility and gentry are supplied with early lamb at Christmas, or sooner if required. Great numbers of those early victims to luxury are yearly sent to the London markets, where they are sold at the enormous price of 10s. 6d. or perhaps 15s. per quarter. The manner of rearing the lambs is curious: they are imprisoned in little dark cabins; the Ewes are fed with oil-cakes, hay, corn, turnips, cabbages, or any other food which the season of the year affords; these are given them in a field contiguous to the apartments where the lambs are kept; and, at proper intervals, the nurses are brought in to give suck to their young ones; while the attendants, at the same time, make their lodgings perfectly clean, and litter them with fresh straw. Great attention is paid to this, as much of the success of rearing these unseasonable productions depends upon warmth and cleanliness.

The Dorsetshire Sheep are mostly white-faced; their legs are long and small; and great numbers of them have

no wool upon their bellies, which gives them an uncouth appearance. They produce a small quantity of wool, but of a good quality; from which our fine Wiltshire cloths are made. The mutton of these Sheep is very sweet and well flavoured. The variations of this breed are spread through most of the southern counties; but the true kind is to be found only in Dorsetshire and Wiltshire. There is a breed, not unlike this, in Norfolk and Suffolk; but they are all grey or black-faced.

The South Down Sheep are of the same hardy nature as the Cheviot breed, and like them, can live and thrive on the barest heaths; their wool is also fine, and their mutton well flavoured.

The Sheep in the low parts of Northumberland are of a mixed breed, between the long kind, the Tees water, and the Lincolnshire. The Mug or Muff kind was formerly common in that county. They were so called, from their wool growing round their heads into their very eyes, so as almost to prevent them from seeing. This breed is now nearly exploded, being considered, by every breeder of experience, as unprofitable, from their thriving slowly, and being very tender.

In the northern districts of Scotland, and in many of the islands, there is a breed of Sheep, which differs from the others in the smallness of their size; many of them, when fed, weighing no more than six, seven, or eight pounds per quarter. They have dun faces, without horns; and their wool, which is very fine, is variously mixed, and streaked with black, brown, and red.

THE north-west part of Yorkshire, with all that mountainous tract of country running towards Lancashire southward, and to Fort William northward, is occupied by a hardy, black-faced, wild-looking tribe, generally called short Sheep, which differ from our other breeds, not only in the darkness of their complexions and horns, but principally in the coarse shaggy wool which they produce. Their eyes have a fiery, sharp, and wild cast. They run with great agility, and seem quite adapted to the heathy mountains they inhabit. Their flesh is peculiarly fine and high-flavoured. The three great fairs for these Sheep (where amazing numbers of them are sold every year) are, Stagshaw-bank, in Northumberland; Brough, in Westmorland; and Linton, in Scotland. There is likewise a breed of Sheep inhabiting the same country as the former; but peculiarly distinguished from them by long, thin bodies, white legs, white faces, and by having no horns. Their wool is fine, and thickly planted.