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muzzle of the ram strong ; the ears fine in texture and of medium 

 length ; the tail broad ; the fleece white, long, and heavy, with a 

 broad staple and bright texture. At the block test competition at 

 the Dublin winter shows, the mutton has been proved to be 

 " splendidly grained, evenly mixed with fat and lean, and of 

 excellent quality." 



DOWN BREEDS OF SHEEP. 



Perhaps the simplest Avay of defining this class is to include all 

 the breeds which are more or less directly indebted to the South 

 Down. This would include in addition to the South Down, the 

 Shropshire, Suffolk, Hampshire, Oxford and Dorset Downs. The 

 various Down breeds were originally generally associated with 

 " Downs " or similar districts of fair elevation with dry soils and 

 climate, but are now found under a wide range of conditions in all 

 parts of the country. 



The Down Sheep mentioned above are hornless, dark-faced and 

 dark-legged, and the majority have close fine wool, comparatively 

 short in length and with fleeces of medium weight. The most 

 important feature from an economic point of view is the quality 

 of carcase and mutton ; they do not readily become too fat even 

 when fed to great weights, and the mutton is of superior quality 

 being firm, fine in the grain, and rich in colour. 



Along with the Down breeds may be included a few breeds 

 Dorset Horn, Ryeland, Western and Kerry Hill which do not 

 readily fall into any of the three classes usually adopted, and which 

 ought probably be separately classed. 



THE SOUTHDOWN. 



The Southdown breed of sheep is known to have existed for a 

 long period in its native home on the range of low chalk hills from 

 which it takes its name, and even a century ago it was famous for 

 hardiness and extremely fine flavour of mutton. The modern 

 refined and symmetrical animal has been developed from the original 

 stock solely by selection, no foreign blood haying been introduced, 

 and the breed is undoubtedly one of the oldest and purest in the 

 country. 



Characteristic features of the Southdown. A description of the 

 general characters and appearance of a typical Southdown sheep is 

 set forth in the Flock Book published by the Southdown Sheep 

 Society (founded 1892) from which the following is extracted : 



Head, wide, level between the ears, with no sign of slug or dark 

 poll. Face, full, not too long from the eyes to the nose, and of 

 one even mouse colour, not approaching black or speckled ; under 

 jaw, light. Eyes, large and prominent. Ears, of medium size and 

 covered with short wool. 



Neck, wide at the base, strong and well set on to the shoulders ; 

 throat clean. Shoulders, well set, and the top level with the back. 



