172 NOTES ON FIELDS AND CATTLE. 



journey from Ireland, to take the gardeners' gates 

 about Birmingham at a fly, reminding one rather of 

 that boar of the woods which the chief of his hunts- 

 men were wont to course under the laws of Hoel Dda, 

 from November 9th until the Calends of December 

 (1st). I have at this moment a low and lengthy sow 

 of Mr. Crisp's celebrated Diamond sort — so well 

 known in the various show-yards — whose skin forms 

 in folds upon her side and hams, even down to the 

 delicate small bone, as she walks across the fields. 

 She is, however, altogether a fine sample of what 

 intelligence and careful breeding may bring a brute 

 to. Of a sheep, too, the pelt should move glibly on 

 pressure ; while the test of a racer's condition is that 

 his skin shift supple under your hand across the fine- 

 drawn rib. 



In further elucidation of these sketches compare 

 the following points, enumerated by Culley as requi- 

 site in the meat-producing animal : 



Points of a Ram. — Head small and fine, nostrils 

 wide and expanded, eyes prominent, and rather bold 

 and daring ; ears thin, collar full at breast, tapering 

 to where head and neck joins, which should be fine 

 and graceful, being perfectly free from any coarse 

 leather hanging down. Shoulder broad and full, but 

 joining to the collar forward and chine backward, so as 

 not to trace the least hollow in either place ; mutton 

 to the knee and hock, legs upright and wide owing to 

 broad chest, clean fine bone, clear from superfluous 

 skin and coarse hairy wool from knee and hock down- 

 wards ; fore-flank behind the shoulders full ; back and 



