Sandoe THE LEICESTERSHIRE IMPROVED BREED. To these various and numerous tribes of this useful animal, we must add, that, by the perfevering industry and attention of Mr Bakewell, of Dishley, in Leicesterfhire, our breed of Sheep has been greatly improved; and he has been followed by many eminent breeders, with nearly equal fuccefs. It seems to be generally agreed, that in Sheep, as well as in all other animals, there is a certain fymmetry or proportion of parts, which is beft adapted to the fize of each particular animal: All thofe of each kind that exceed or fall fhort of this pitch, are more or lefs difproportioned, according to the fize they attain; and in the degree they are advanced beyond this line of perfection, we find them lefs active, weaker, and always lefs able to endure hardship. Thus, by felecting the handsomest and best proportioned of their kinds, the judicious breeder has gradually arrived at a degree of perfection in improving this animal, unknown at any former period. The fuperior qualities of the Leicestershire breed are, that they will feed quickly fat at almost any age, even on indifferent paftures, and carry the greateft quantity of mutton upon the fmalleft bone. Their carcafes are round, have remarkably broad backs, and fhort legs; and to fhew the immenfe weight to which they may be fed, we give the measurement of a Ram of Mr Bakewell's, mentioned by Young in his "Eaftern Tour :"--At three years old, his girt was five feet ten inches; height, two feet five inches; breadth over his shoulders, one foot eleven inches and an half; breadth over his ribs, one foot ten inches and an half; breadth over his hips, one foot nine inches and an half. The great importance of this breed of Sheep will best be fhewn, by stating the following facts refpecting the modern practice of letting out Rams for hire by the seafon; which, from very small beginnings, has already risen to an astonishing height; and is likely, for some time, to prove a copious fource of wealth to the country at large:About forty years ago, Mr Bakewell let out Rams at fixteen and feventeen fhillings a-piece; and, from that time, the prices kept gradually rifing from one guinea to ten. But the most rapid increase has taken place fince the year 1780-four hundred guineas have been repeatedly given. Mr Bakewell, in the year 1789, made twelve hundred guineas by three Rams; two thoufand of feven; and, of his whole ftock, three thousand guineas.Aftonishing as this may appear, it is nevertheless an undoubted fact. But it ought to be observed, that these great prices are not given by graziers, for the purpose of improving their grazing stock; but by principal breeders, in order to procure a stock of Rams of the improved breed, which they let out again to breeders of an inferior clafs. The prices given by graziers, for the fole purpose of getting grazing stock, seldom exceed ten guineas, which is confidered as an extraordinary price, five or fix guineas being moft frequently given. This valuable breed has likewife found its way into Northumberland. Meff. Culley of Fenton, Mr Thompfon of Lilburn, and Meff. Donkin and Co. of Hexham Brewery, with great fpirit, and at confiderable expence, have greatly improved their refpective breeds of Sheep, by an admission of the Dishley blood. B A WEDDER OF MR CULLEY'S BREED. We are favoured, by Mr Culley, with the following account of a Wedder of his breed, fed at Fenton in Northumberland, and killed at Alnwick in October, 1787, when four years old:His dimenfions were as follow,---girt, four feet eight inches and an half; breadth, over his shoulders, one foot three inches; over his mid dle, one foot feven inches and a quarter; across the breaft, from the infide of one fore leg to the infide of the other, nine inches. At the dividing of the quarters, through the ribs it measured seven inches and one-eighth of solid fat, cut ftraight through without any flope; and his mutton was of the most beautiful bright colour. But in nothing was he fo remarkable, as in the fmallness of his bones.---The proprietor of this Sheep laments, that he had not the offals exactly weighed (by offals, we would be understood to mean not only the tallow, but the head, pluck, and pelt, with the blood and entrails); because it is now well known, that this breed of Sheep has a greater quantity of mutton, in proportion to the offal, than any other kind we know of, and is confequently cheaper to the confumer. [The drawing, from which the preceding cut was taken, was made by Mr Bailey, of Chillingham, foon after the Sheep had been fhorn.] Before we quit this article, we must take notice of a breed of Sheep, which have hitherto been but little known or attended to; although it is probable, they poffefs advantages of equal importance with those we have just mentioned; and, in all likelihood, they might have continued ftill longer in the fame neglected state, but for the endeavours of a set of men, who, actuated by a truly patriotic zeal, are labouring to draw out the natural resources of their country, and fecure, to the most diftant and longneglected parts of this kingdom, those permanent advantages, to which they are by their situation entitled. In pursuing these important objects, the Highland Society of Scotland have difcovered, that the Shetland islands, and some parts of the Highlands of Scotland, are in poffeffion of a breed of Sheep, which produces wool infinitely fuperior to that of any other in the kingdom, and equal to the Spanish wool in fineness and texture. By order of the Society, fpecimens of these Sheep have been obtained, for the purpose of a fair investigation into the nature and quality of their wool; which, upon examination, proves much finer than was at firft imagined.-We are favoured, by Dr James Anderson, with the following particulars. THE SHETLAND SHEEP are handfome, fmall, and in general hornlefs; and are peculiarly distinguished by the unusual shortness and fmallness of their tails. They weigh, when fat, from eight to ten pounds per quarter. Their fleeces are, on an average, about two pounds weight. The wool, when properly dreffed, is of a pure and gloffy white: Some small specimens of it, compared with Vigognia wool, were allowed, by good judges, to be fully as fine; and, in foftnefs, equal to that of which the Indian shawls are made. The Sheep producing this fine wool are said to be of the hardiest nature: They are never housed; and, in the winter season, are often so pinched for food, that they are obliged to feed upon the fea-ware driven upon the fhore. Befides the wool with which they are covered, they have long hairs growing amongst it, which serve to fhelter it. It is a fingular circumftance, that the Shetland Sheep are never shorn; but, about the beginning of June, the wool is pulled off, without the smallest pain or injury to the animal, leaving the long hairs, already mentioned, |