62 SHEEP ! BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



The nose in the ram should be thick and bold, and the ewe 

 should carry a bold head of more feminine character. The 

 character and ampleness of this feature are seen at all ages, 

 and distinguish the breed from Southdowns in a marked 

 degree. The lips are black, as are also the nostrils, and the 

 eye is of rich yellow-brown and large or full. The ears are 

 long, and in the best types fall slightly outwards, giving the 

 idea of great width of poll. They are thin and mobile, and 

 are set forward when the animal is in an attitude of attention, 

 giving an idea of intelligence and liveliness. The ear of the 

 Hampshire is undoubtedly a character, and differs from the 

 shorter and rounder ear of the Southdown or of the Shrop- 

 shire. The head is well covered with wool both between the 

 ears and on the cheek. The neck is of fair length, enabling 

 the sheep to stand with head erect, instead of being carried 

 horizontally as in the Leicester or the Southdown. It is thick 

 and muscular, and is considered to be a point of special 

 excellence and importance^/ The shoulder tops are wide, and 

 the girth behind the shoulders and of the entire fore-end must 

 be well marked to secure any attention either in the prize or 

 sale ring. The remaining carcase points are common to all 

 breeds, and it seems unnecessary in every case to insist upon 

 the importance of well-sprung ribs, wide loins, straight quar- 

 ters, good legs, square and massive form, &c. These go 

 without saying, and are as important in the eyes of Hamp- 

 shire Down breeders as in those of any other sheep masters. 

 The fleece is composed of exceedingly fine fibres, and is thick 

 on the skin, which is pink in colour. The slightly Roman 

 character of the face and the fine wool have no doubt partly 

 been derived from the old Wiltshire horned sheep, which 

 lies back in the pedigree. The quality of the flesh and the 

 colour have come through the Southdown, but the colour has 

 been deepened by selection. The length of ear has probably 

 been derived from an alliance with the Cotswold, made, as 

 already pointed out, by Mr. Twynam, and in this feature 

 there is a point of resemblance between this race and the 



