12 FITTING SHEEP 



of retrogression. It is very easy for the novice to make a 

 serious mistake in judging the points of an animal by con- 

 founding a poor twist with a good one; he too often thinks 

 that because a sheep is "well-meated" down the thighs and 

 not "split up" behind that he is perfect in twist. Upon crit- 

 ipal examination, however, this does not always prove to be 

 true. Upon taking a rear view of an animal we often find 

 that although "well meated" down the leg, even to the 

 gambrel joint, it shows a somewhat contracted or squeezed 

 appearance, the leg of mutton showing a tendency to flatness 

 instead of roundness. Then, again, the legs are not set wide 

 enough apart, and that graceful curve and full muscle that 

 goes to form the well-developed twist is not in evidence, 

 neither does the animal stand with that degree of assurance 

 and strength, or is he so active on His feet as the animal that 

 carries the well formed twist. There is as much difference in 

 the shape of a good twist and a poor one as there is in a well- 

 shaped pear before and after being flattened out by pressure. 



The sheep with a well-formed twist carries mutton on 

 both the inside and outside of the leg; the rotundity of the 

 leg plainly showing it. Sheep strong in the twist are not 

 usually easily broken down while being fitted for the show 

 ring, where the proper and necessary exercise is allowed 

 them. Good twists are more often met with in short-legged 

 animals than in others. 



Another thing which does not usually receive the neces- 

 sary attention and judgment at the hands of the novice, and 

 indeed many of our experienced judges, is the proper devel- 

 opment of the crops of a sheep. Too many animals that have 

 no crops at all, as it were, too often receive honors that should 

 be given to more deserving animals. No animal with imper- 



