40 SHEEP : BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



nearly the whole surface of the body, including the forehead, 

 between the eyes, round the ears, and on the belly and scrotum. 

 The hind legs down to the hoofs, and even the fore legs at 

 times, have downy wool on them. Hairy wool on thighs is 

 objectionable. The head is of good size and well carried on 

 a long and strong neck, giving much greater style than is 

 usual in most breeds. The nostrils should be wide in the ram, 

 the back of the head fiat, and the ears large and thin, well 

 set on and well carried. The breed is specially noted for the 

 absence of patchiness or excess of fat. The quality of flesh 

 produced, the hardy constitution, and active disposition, enable 

 it to maintain the position of first favourite in many districts." 



SOUTH DEVON SHEEP. 



Although resembling the Devon Long-woolled breed in 

 length of fleece and other external characters the South 

 Devon breed is distinct in several important respects. It 

 has been established in South Devon and Cornwall for at 

 least 100 years in a part of the country somewhat remote from 

 the centres of population, and its breeders have failed to 

 realize the importance of making it better known. It has, 

 however, been so long carefully btfed that it has without doubt 

 become a pure breed capable of transmitting its properties to 

 its progeny. It is described in the Preface to the first volume 

 of its Flock Book as a sheep of great robustness of constitu- 

 tion, large, symmetrical, and well grown, with plenty of bone 

 and muscle, vigorous and thrifty, equally adapted for the fold 

 or grazing-land, a rapid feeder, rapidly arriving at maturity 

 and readily responding to liberal treatment. It also thrives 

 upon hard fare and in exposed situations. The wool is long 

 and the staple is very lustrous, curly and dense on the pelt. 

 Its flesh is said to abound in lean to a greater degree than 

 that of most long-woolled sheep. In general aspect it is mas- 

 sive and the fleece is characteristically curly and close. The 

 breed is recognized in its claims by the Royal Agricultural 

 Society, and a Society was established in 1903 and publishes 

 a Flock Book. 



