LEICESTER SHEEP. 26l 



PRINCIPAL POINTS. 



I. In the absence of an authorized scale of 

 points, the following is submitted. 



(1) Size Medium, with a leaning to increase rather than 

 decrease. 



(2) General Outline Symmetrical, parallelogrammic and 

 everywhere well proportioned. 



(3) Head Small for the size of the body, but much 

 stronger in the rams, somewhat long and fine, tapering toward 

 the muzzle, and Roman-nosed, especially in the Border 

 varieties. 



(a) It is snowy white when young, but becomes some- 

 what darker with age, and the same is true of the legs. 



(b) It is usually entirely free from wool, but sometimes 

 there is very short wool, covering a part of the forehead, which 

 is broad, as is also the poll. 



(c) Eye, prominent, with a quiet expression. 



(d) Ears, thin, moderately long, and without droop. 



(4) Neck Short rather than long, round rather than flat, 

 straight above, fine at the junction with the head, broad and 

 deep at the base and carrying the head with but moderate 

 erection. 



(5) Back Wide and straight from base of neck to tail- 

 head and well covered in every part when in good flesh. 



(a) Withers, broad, close and level. 



(b) Loin, wide, strong and full. 



(6) Forequarters Fully equal in development to the 

 hindquarters. 



(a) Shoulders, splendidly rounded out from the withers 

 and blending nicely with a full neck-vein and crops. 



(b) Chest, very wide and deep. 



(c) Breast, to correspond with chest in width and depth 

 and beautifully filled and rounded. 



(d) Brisket, wide, rounded and well forward. 



(e) Forearm, broad, full and neatly tapering. 



(7) Barrel Only moderately long in the barrel and nicely 

 rounded out. 



(a) Ribs, close, coming well forward and backward and 

 of round and deep spring. 



(b) Fore and hind flanks equally low and full. 



(c} Heart girth and flank girth excellent and about equal. 

 (d) Underline, straight. 



(8) Hindquarters Long, wide and deep, but sometimes 

 there is over much narrowing toward the buttock. 



(a) Hips, large, level on top with line of back and on side 

 with barrel. 



(b) Crupper, creased above the spinal column. 



