Volume 12, Plate XV / Mammalia (Mammals)

Black-Faced Ram

The ancient or black-faced heath breed ranges from north-western Yorkshire through the Highlands, especially the western coast, and is the most picturesque of sheep, extremely active, hardy and goat-like in habit, of firm compact make with a piercing wild eye. The male’s horns are very large and convoluted, the wool long, coarse and shaggy, the face and slender legs always black as jet; the mutton is fine grained and well flavoured though the wool is coarse and unprofitable.