CHAP. XVI.] FARMING FOR LADIES. 337 



in admiration of their form and colour, were 

 then produced ; but, to our astonishment, the 

 only point to which attention was called was 

 the length of the ears ! which were in most 

 cases so long as to trail upon the ground, 

 and being measured across the head, from 

 the tip of one ear to the outer edge of the 

 other, that which gained the prize was 20j 

 inches. Nothing was, however, said of weight; 

 and being ourself — as an old member of 

 the Smithfield Club, as well as somewhat of 

 a gourmand — rather more interested in the 

 size of the carcass than the length of the ears, 

 we ventured to ask how much it weighed ; but 

 was met by the indignant reply, that " brute 

 weight formed no consideration with the club." 

 On pointing out, however, in their regulations 

 an offer of prizes for weight, it was found 

 that a doe — of course alive — of six months 

 old, weighed just nine pounds ; and in the 

 former show there was a prize-doe weighing 

 10 lb. 14 oz. They have, indeed, been brought, 

 at a year or two old, to the weight of twelve 

 and even twenty pounds. Bucks, it should, 

 however, be observed, always weigh heavier 

 than does. 



