606 SHEEP HORNLESS DARK-FACED SHORT-WOOLS 



at a meeting called by Lythall and Mansell, and a history of 

 the breed from the pen of Alfred Mansell, College Hill, 

 Shrewsbury (to which indebtedness is acknowledged), 

 appeared in vol. iii. of the Flock Book of Shropshire Sheep, 

 published in 1885. 



Points. 1 " The Ram should be masculine in character ; 

 face not too long between eye and muzzle ; strong nose ; 

 broad between the eyes and between the ears ; strong, thick 

 neck, well arched into shoulder; head and face completely 

 covered with fine white wool, except the nose, which should 

 be a mellow black ; ears also dark in colour, and small or 

 medium ; fleece very dense, fine, and of medium length ; the 

 whole body and legs covered with an equal quality of wool 

 coarse wool about the thighs, or light, thin wool on the 

 shoulder points being great faults, as also black or grey wool. 

 The skin should be pink, and free from blue or dark spots ; 

 the body square, on short, straight, stout legs, without gross, 

 coarse bone, and the back and ribs well covered with lean 

 flesh." 



The Ewe possesses the same characteristics, but should 

 be feminine and gay in appearance, having a finer head and 

 neck. A good average weight for a fleece in an ordinary 

 ewe flock is 7 or 8 Ibs. ; those of ram tegs and highly-fed 

 ewes more ; but heavy " clips " of wool are frequently coarse. 

 Shepherds' Calendar of the Ashlyns Hall flock of 

 Shropshire ewes belonging to Sir Richard Cooper, Bart., of 

 Berkhamsted : 



August. The work of the year begins with the close 

 examination of the flock and the removal of the faulty ewes, 



if any remain in the flock so late in 

 the season. The flock is made up 

 to its numerical strength of 200 by 

 selected shearling ewes, which are 

 FIG. 44. PATENT LOCKING numbered in large figures (3-inch), so 

 EAR-TAG. that they can be readily identified. 



All ewes are selected and apportioned to the different sires, 

 which are allowed to run with them, excepting show rams in 

 high condition. In that case, the ewes are accompanied by 

 a teaser, and all, in turn, taken to the selected sire. Mean- 

 1 Specially prepared for the Author by Thos. A. Buttar, Corston, 

 Coupar- Angus, N.B. 



