598 THE HOME, FAKM AND BUSINESS CYCLOPAEDIA. 



They are of large dimensions, and have a great propensity to fatten, 

 arising chiefly from their wide frame, quietude, and open texture of flesh, 

 which is of quick growth, and consequently expands itself more rapidly 

 than in sheep of other qualities; but they do not possess that exactness of 

 form peculiar to smaller animals, though they have a better carriage. For 

 many years the male animals have been eagerly sought after, with a view- 

 to increase the size and frame of other long-wooled breeds. In many re- 

 spects these sheep approach the Cotswolds, and are said by their admi 

 to yield finer grained meat. 



Among the first introductions of this breed to Canada were those of 

 1876, by the Ontario Experimental Farm, and now they are spreading 

 rapidly. 



HAMPSHIRE DOWN. These have recently been much improved in 

 frame, quality and early maturing. Their fine, lengthy carcasses, full of 

 lean flesh, are much esteemed in England; the lambs are said to obtain a 

 greater weight than those of any other breed at the same age. The face 

 is dark, about black, wide head and long, Roman nose, considerable bone, 

 and nice short wool. They are esentially a make-up from Southdown and 

 Cotswold in their hardiness, colour, wool and mutton resembling the one, 

 and in their size the other, having the early maturing of the Leicester 

 through the improved Cotswold, as well as the South Down. 



SHROPSHIRE DOWNS, or " Shrops," as their admirers prefer to call them, 

 because they consider they have had nothing to do with Down blood, but 

 this is disputed ; they are a comparatively new breed, having many of the 

 characteristics of the South Down, but heavier in carcass and fleece. The 

 frame is long, wide, and deep, with plenty of lean flesh, with a robust con- 

 stitution and aptitude to fatten. In quality of mutton they are excelled 

 only by the South Downs and some of the mountain breeds. The ewes 

 are excellent mothers and prolific; colour of face and legs, black or 



grey. 



THE SOUTH DOWN. As every prominent iong-woolled breed has been 

 improved by the Leicester, so every Down must bow to the South Down 

 for a similar reason. They were materially improved and brought to 

 their present perfection by John Ellman, of Clyde, who says they should 

 have the head small and hornless, the face speckled or grey, the under 

 jaw fine and thin, and the whole space betwen the ears well protected 

 with wool ; the eye full and bright ; the neck thin towards the head, but 

 enlarging towards the shoulders, and there broad and high ; the chest 

 wide, deep, and projecting between the forelegs ; the shoulders level with 

 the back, bowing outwards from the top to the breast, leaving room fora 



