THE LIVE STOCK OF THE FARM. 597 



to make the apparent width of th3 chest even greater than the depth. 

 The barrel ribbed well home; no irregularity ofline on the back or belly, 

 but on the sides ; the carcass very gradually diminishing in width toward 

 the rump. The quarters long and full, and, as with the fore-legs, the 

 muscles extending down to the hock ; the thighs also wide and full. The 

 legs of a moderate length ; the skin also moderately thin, but soft and 



tic, and covered with a good quantity of white wool 

 The Border Leicester, not different in blood, but the improved English 

 Leicester changed in size, somewhat in form and other points, as brought 

 about by physical condition and management in the country having the 

 " Borders " between England and Scotland as their home. They are 

 larger than the English type, with a whiter face and smaller head, and an 

 unusually fine bone, as contrasted with the weight of carcass. They are 

 in in the jaws, with a full eye, thin ears, and placid countenance. Their 

 hacks are straight, broad and flat; the ribs arched, the belly carried very 

 light, so that they present nearly as straight a line below as above ; the 

 chest wide, the skin very mellow, and covered with a beautiful fleece of 

 long, soft wool. 



THE CHEVIOT. The Cheviot hills, between England and Scotland, have 

 long held a peculiar breed of this name, which can contest in hardiness 

 and mutton quality with the Black Face of Scotland. They are hornless, 

 and faces and legs in general white ; formerly the prevailing colour of the 

 face was black, but repeated crossing with the Leicester have made both 

 face and legs white. The best have a fine open countenance, with lively 

 prominent eye ; the body is long, the fore quarter wanting in depth at the 

 tst, and breadth both there and on the chine. The legs are fine, clear, 

 and small bum-, th- prlt thin, with moderate weight of coarse wool fle< 

 th<-ir mutton is excellent. 



Tin: < \FORD DOWN. The Oxford Downs are a fine breed of sheep, like 



the Shropshire of comparatively modern introduction. They have been 



fully hi.-.l as a distinct breed for more than thirty years. They have 



;e, handsome frames, like the Cotswolds, but with a black or grey face, 



K.I. and firmer and Ix-tter quality of mutton. This lnoed owes its 



introduction to Mr. Swynham, of Whitrhurch, 1 1 ant s, who about the v 



1830 commi'iirrd to cross with a Cotswold ram (the old Cotswold as im- 



j-ythe Leicester) and his Shropshire I >o\\n r\\vs the objed in 



to have an animal which would come to early maturity with 



re carcass, good fleece, and y-t which would possess the hardy charac- 



f the Shropshire- 



