262 SOUTHDOWNS. 



breeder, perhaps his superior, he was inclined to keep his methods 

 closely concealed, incurring thereby a rather general disfavor. Mr. 

 Ellman, on the other hand, freely communicated the results of his ex- 

 periments, and showed himself to be entirely free from all illiberal pre- 

 judice. His aim was to produce a sheep which should combine the 

 points most desirable, in his judgment, for the locality in which he 

 lived ; and with him it was first, health and constitution ; second, 

 fixedness of type. He, therefore, did not in-breed so closely as did 

 Bakewell, but purchased freely from his contemporaries in order to in- 

 fuse fresh blood and retain the vigor of his flock. 



Since Mr. Ellman's death (1832), there have been many careful 

 breeders to carry forward the work, and keep up the popularity and 

 excellence of the Southdown breed, among them Mr. Jonas Webb, of 

 Suffolk, who may be called his immediate successor. 



The Southdown, next to the Merino, is the most widely known of 

 all the breeds of sheep at present in the United States ; and in the West- 

 ern and Middle States finds its greatest popularity. 



In the South the Merino has the preference, but many Southdowns 

 are being shipped in for use in grading up on flocks of Merino basis, 

 and are reported to acclimate readily and produce a desirable grade. 



DESCRIPTION AND CHARACTERISTICS. 



Color of face and legs a uniform tint of brown, gray or mouse 

 (formerly speckled faces were admitted, but later breeders aim to 

 exclude all except the colors mentioned); head medium in size, horn- 

 less, forehead and cheeks well covered with wool ; ears rather small, 

 wide apart and lively ; eyes bright and full ; neck short, fine at head, 

 but well set on to broad, full shoulders. The chest is wide and deep ; 

 back and loin broad ; ribs well arched ; hips wide and close to floating 

 ribs ; thigh fleshed low down, and legs fine-boned, short, and wooled to 

 knee and hock. The belly is straight and well covered with wool ; gen- 

 eral appearance smooth with no trace of coarseness spirited and 

 attractive. 



The fleece is white, compact, moderately long and close, and car- 

 rying some yolk. They are fair, not heavy, shearers running some 

 four to six or seven pounds per fleece in high-class flocks ; but their 

 mutton is unexcelled, and has always commanded the top of the English 

 market. 



The ewes are prolific, make excellent mothers, and their lambs are 

 uniformly hardy and vigorous. 



In size they are above medium two-year-old fat wethers weighing 

 as high as 200 to 225 Ibs., and mature breeding rams about 170 to 190 Ibs. 



Where a sheep is wanted to produce mutton as a prime object, with 



