612 SHEEP HORNLESS DARK-FACED SHORT-WOOLS 



ewes at about seven months old, and sometimes as early as in 

 July. Lambs can be got early, as the ewes come in season 

 sooner than most other sheep. Ewes are generally cast in 

 early autumn at four and a half years old, after rearing the 

 third crop of lambs. Ewe lambs can be put to the ram to 

 produce lambs at one year old, but the practice is not to be 

 encouraged. " A well-bred fattening lamb on good keep will 

 increase at the rate of J Ib. per day from birth, and will weigh 

 1 13 Ibs. on 3 ist May." Of this, 68 Ibs. or 60 per cent, will be 

 dressed carcase, or 17 Ibs. per quarter. The great success of 

 the Hampshire in competition with other breeds at Smithfield 

 (see the annual official reports) is partially due to the 

 advantage of early birth. The mutton is of fine quality, not 

 so fat as that of the long- wool breeds, and all over firm to the 

 touch. 



Points. The head large, and free from " slugs " or " snigs," 

 with a strong Roman nose ; the faces and legs a uniform dark 

 brown or almost black ; light faces indicating recent crossing 

 with the Southdown. The wool free from black patches, 

 growing close up to and round the ears, dense and fine over 

 the body, and white when shed, with a pink skin underneath. 

 The average weight of fleece is 4^ to 5 Ibs. for ewes. The 

 ears are of a good size, more pointed than in the Southdown, 

 of a dark mouse colour behind, and free from light specks. 

 The fore quarters are particularly good, and the top of the 

 shoulder exceptionally broad. A conspicuous defect at one 

 time prevalent in ordinary specimens of the breed was a want 

 of girth and slackness behind the shoulder, but this defect has 

 been bred out to a considerable extent. 



The Suffolk sheep was formed towards the close of the 

 eighteenth century and the first half of last century, by crossing 

 ewes of the hardy Blackface Norfolk Horned mountain breed 

 (see Plate CLXIII. and p. 554) with Southdown rams, to give 

 symmetry of form, compactness, and early maturity. The 

 general interbreeding of these two distinct strains of blood is 

 described by W. and H. Raynbird, of Hengrave, in an Essay 

 on the Agriculture of Norfolk, written for the Royal Agricul- 

 tural Society in 1 847. About this time they were known as 

 "Southdown Norfolks," and locally as "Blackfaces." It was 

 not till 1859 that they were designated " Suffolks," when 



