THE MUTTON BREEDS OF SHEEP 341 



398. History in America. Hampshire Down Sheep 

 were imported into America in 1855 by Thomas Messenger 

 of Long Island. No further importations are recorded 

 until 1881. In that year, Henry Met calf, of Canandaigua, 

 New York, imported the ram, Shepherds' Pride 2. In 

 1883, the breed was introduced into Michigan, and in 

 1885 into Ohio. 



399. Description. The Hampshire is a black-faced 

 breed, larger than the Shropshire, and is ranked by some 

 persons as the largest of the Down breeds, although that 

 distinction is generally accorded the Oxford. An average 

 weight should be 250 pounds for mature rams, and 185 

 to 195 for mature ewes (Plate XIII). 



It is the coarsest in bone and head of any of this group. 

 Its fleece somewhat resembles that of the Southdown, 

 although it is coarser and less dense. The breed ranks 

 rather low in- wool-production, the Suffolk only ranking 

 lower. The wool is of about the same grade as that of 

 the Shropshire, but shorter, and covering the body less 

 completely. The face is inclined to be long, and the nose 

 somewhat Roman in the rams. The ears are large and 

 drooping, the face and legs are almost black, or a very 

 dark brown. As compared with the Shropshire, it is 

 somewhat longer in body and leg, and perhaps 10 per cent 

 heavier. The ewes are prolific and heavy milkers. They 

 strongly compete with the Shropshire in the production 

 of twins. 



400. Uses of Hampshire sheep. The claim of the 

 breed to superiority is based on the rapidity with which the 

 lambs grow. In England, the flocks are generally folded, 

 and the lambs fed for rapid development. It is not 

 unusual for a Hampshire lamb to gain a pound a day. 

 The breed ranks very well for mutton-production, es- 



