ancestral

'Macgregor', owned by James R. Dempster, Ladyton

from National Galleries of Scotland Commons

• 48 older comments, and then…
• BigBean said:

  Hi, this photo has been mentioned in a discussion thread in the Flickr Commonsgroup, and we'd love to have this added to the group pool! -- Seen in a discussion of Flickr Commons. (?)

• Dulce Diabla said:

  Cute almost shaggy like a sheepdog. Love the photo.

• Scott Kraft said:

  awesome!

• David Badagnani said:

  I'd like to know the story behind this picture--why does this sheep have a name, and why was a photograph of him commissioned? Is he particularly eminent or distinguished in some way?

• David Badagnani said:

  OK, just found the link above: " Shown here is the most common variety of sheep in the Scottish Borders and Highlands - the Scottish Blackface. Their wool is highly prized for its hardwearing qualities and the Blackface horns add a distinctive look to walking sticks and shepherds' crooks. Photographs of livestock were not uncommon during the turn of the century, as landowners took pride in their husbandry. The side view gives us a clear idea of the physical qualities of the breed: the long thick fleece, the curvy horns, the black face and the magnificent posture. "