SHEEP 413 



The fleece is heavier, with a longer staple of medium quality. 

 The fleece covers the body and legs, and the face down to the 

 nose. The ear is small and short and shows quality. The color 

 of the face, ears, and legs is a dark brown or blackish brown. 

 Both ewes and rams are hornless. 



547. The Hampshire Down. This breed of sheep originated 

 in south-central England and was introduced into the United 

 States about 1855. Hampshire lambs mature quickly and fatten 



FIG. 209. The Shropshire 

 Good body, good fleece, and hairy legs, face, and nose 



readily. The Hampshire is a little more rangy and upstanding 

 than the Shropshire, and is one of the largest of the Down 

 breeds. The head, ears, and legs are dark brown or black 

 (Fig. 210). The lips and nostrils are black. The Hampshire 

 head is large, and the nose has a Roman profile. The ears are 

 large and long, are carried outward and somewhat drooping, 

 and are somewhat more pointed than in the Shropshire. Both 

 ewes and rams are hornless. 



