288 THE SHEEP OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



SO that there is with the slightest possible deviation one con- 

 tinued horizontal line from the rump to poll." The ribs are 

 well sprung, and the carcass very true ; the hips well covered, 

 but not wide, and tapering to the rump, which is small; the 

 back is covered with fat. The handling of the late Lord 

 Berners' wethers at the Smithfield shows was quite remarkable, 

 proving the extraordinary capacity for the accumulation of fat. 

 In such over-fed specimens, however, the waste must be fright- 

 ful, as, with the exception of a few joints, the carcass presents 

 the appearance of a mass of luscious fat. With such a capacity 

 of external and rapid development there is little inside fat; 

 hence Leicesters are not favourites with the butcher; and, though 

 looking much more wealthy, they do not scale heavier when 

 arrived at a certain age (viz., as two-shears) than the South- 

 down. Their great point is early development and accumulation 

 of weight on a given amount of food. The head is well set on 

 the forehead flat and generally bare, or covered with short hair. 

 Formerly a great point was made of bare heads, but now we 

 believe breeders prefer to have close short wool, which protects 

 from the fly ; and this is certainly desirable, or otherwise the 

 ewes must be capped during summer. The eye is full and 

 prominent, indicating docility of disposition, and the head 

 tolerably long and fine ; the ears are thin and rather long. The 

 muscular development is moderate ; this is attributable to 

 rapidity of growth. The legs of mutton are not large, and there 

 is a deficiency of lean meat. The skin is thin and very supple, 

 and the wool is fine and fairly long. 



The Leicesters are not a prolific breed. In early days too 

 many lambs were regarded as a great evil ; if the breeder left 

 off with an equal number with the ewes he was well content. 

 In these days more fruitful sorts are desirable. In the grazing 

 districts of Leicestershire it is the practice to run a few sheep 

 in the feeding pastures ; here they rapidly get fat, and appear 

 well suited for the country. But, as we remarked before, it is 

 for their value as a cross, and on account of the extraordinary 

 influence they have exercised on most of our leading breeds, 

 that they merit the first place in our notices of sheep stock. 



