602 SHEEP HORNLESS DARK-FACED SHORT-WOOLS 



climate, and soil, on the light chalk formation, as well as the 

 management, greatly influenced their size, quality, and 

 appearance, and the character of their wool. The present 

 agitation to divide the breed into two types supports this 

 generally accepted view of the influence of environment, 

 although the proposal is strongly opposed by the great 

 majority of Southdown breeders. The " Upperdown " sheep 

 resemble most the original Southdown breed, while the short- 

 necked, wide-chested, short-legged "Underbill" sheep, that 

 take most of the prizes at the leading shows, illustrate a di- 

 vergence from the true hill type which has taken place in 

 flocks kept in East Anglia, on the weald, and on flat meadow- 

 land in other parts of the country, all differing from the oro- 

 graphical character of the South Down range. 



Ellman predicted what would happen, when he wrote : 

 " Depend upon it that the rich pastures of inland countries 

 deteriorate the quality of the mutton, and interfere with other 

 properties which have distinguished for ages this hardy race 

 of animals. In stating this, I do not infer that Southdown 

 sheep cannot retain properties to recommend them for 

 general purposes, even when fed upon rich pastures, but 

 unless fresh blood from Sussex Downs is frequently introduced 

 into those breeding flocks which are removed into other districts, 

 the resemblance, the quality of mutton and wool, will be changed, 

 and the hardiness of the animal interfered with." 



Low stated that " it is to the effects of careful culture, 

 under favourable circumstances, that the modern breed of 

 the Southdown owes the superiority which it has acquired 

 over all the other short-woolled sheep of the Midland and 

 Southern counties of England. With the advancement of 

 tillage, and the larger proportion of turnips and other suc- 

 culent plants, the breeders of Sussex had the means of 

 treating their animals well while advancing to maturity ; 

 while increased attention was given to the selection of the 

 breeding parents, and to the consequent calling forth of 

 those properties of form which evince the tendency to arrive 

 at early maturity of muscle and fatness. . . . The breed has 

 spread over a great tract of country, and either superseded 

 the pre-existing varieties, or been so mingled with them as 

 to have modified all their characters. ... It has superseded 

 the ancient breeds of Berkshire, Hampshire, and Wiltshire, 



