BOEDER LEICESTERS. 291 



following conformation: The head of fair size, with profile 

 slightly aquiline, tapering to the muzzle, but with strength of 

 jaw and wide nostril; the eyes full and bright, showing both 

 docihty and courage ; the ears of fair size, and well set ; the 

 neck thick at the base, with good neck vein, and tapering 

 gracefully to where it joins the head, which should stand well 

 up ; the chest broad, deep, and well forward, descending from 

 the neck in a perpendicular line ; the shoulders broad and open, 

 but showing no coarse points : from where the neck and 

 shoulders join, to the rump should describe a straight line, the 

 latter being fully developed ; in both arms and thighs the flesh 

 well let down to the knees and hocks ; the ribs well sprung 

 from the backbone in a fine circular arch, and more distinguished 

 by width than depth, showing a tendency to carry the mutton 

 high, and with belly straight, significant of small offal; the 

 legs straight, with a fair amount of bone, clean and fine, free 

 from any tuftiness of wool, and of a uniform whiteness with the 

 face and ears. They ought to be well clad all over, the belly 

 not excepted, with wool of a medium texture, with an open j9irZ, 

 as it is called, towards the end. In handling, the bones should 

 be all covered; and particularly along the back and quarters 

 (which should be lengthy) there should be a uniform covering 

 of flesh, not pulpy, but firm and muscular The wool, 

 especially on the ribs, should fill the hand well. When the 

 above conformation is attained, the animal generally moves 

 with a graceful and elastic step, which, in the Leicester sheep, 

 as well as in the human species, constitutes "the poetry of 

 motion," and without which animals, even of high class in any 

 breed, cannot now attain the chief honours in the showyard or 

 the auction ring. 



The foregoing may not suit the taste of all Leicester breeders. 

 There has been a tendency in later times to attempt to improve 

 the breed by crossing with sheep of looser frame, and wool of 

 an opener and stronger staple. Such attempts have generally 

 ended in failure, the strain of blood producing tender heads, 

 weak necks and loins, and lack of constitution, and taking 

 many years of careful and judicious management to eradicate. 

 Our opinion is, that, in all such attempts, the coarseness, if any, 

 should be on the dam's side, and that the sire should invariably 



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