338 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



smaller grades. In selecting Cotswolds foe very particular to get them 

 dense fleeced, especially along the back, and of extra quality. 



The Downs. In the south of England is a chain of chalky hills 

 covered with fine, short grass. As long as history records, there has 

 been on these hills a race of short-wooled sheep for the most part pos- 

 sessed of horns. From this old type, through selection and crossing 

 and careful feeding, have been developed the Southdown, Shrop- 

 shire, Oxford, Hampshire, Suffolk and Dorset horn, breeds of sheep 

 which, in greater or less numbers, are to be found in the United 

 States and Canada. These breeds are, for the most part, somewhat 

 smaller than the Long-wools, but they atone for this by their quality 

 and even more by the fineness and denseness of their fleeces, the 

 latter being particularly important as a means of protecting them 

 from rains and snows, which are all too often the cause of colds and 

 other diseases. 



The Southdowns. This breed is a striking illustration of the 

 possibilities of breeding. A native of the Sussex-downs, and some- 

 times so designated, the unimproved ancestors are described as being 

 small in size, of bad shape, long in the neck, low at both ends, light 

 in shoulders, narrow in front, coarse in bone, possessed of horns, but 

 boasting of a big leg of mutton. Today, the breed is one of the most 

 perfectly formed breeds in existence. 



The size of Southdowns is medium' to small, but so compact and 

 thick fleshed are they and so close to the ground that their weights 

 will astonish any unacquainted with the breed. The head is mod- 

 erate in size, short and cleanly cut. The forehead should be covered. 

 with wool, as also the cheeks, but this does not usually join under the 

 eyes. There is an absence of horns and the ears are small, pointed 

 and very alert. The face is of a mouse or slightly darker brown 

 color (speckled face objected to). The neck, body and quarters are 

 most symmetrical and the very embodiment of mutton type. No 

 other sheep has such a development of hind quarters. The fleece is 

 characterised more by its fineness and density, rather than its weight, 

 which is usually not great on account of the shortness of fibre and a 

 comparative lack of yolk. 



The great transformation in the quality of the Southdown was 

 effected exclusively by selection, and the result has been not only a 

 very handsome, but exceedingly prepotent class of sheep that have 

 been used extensively in the improvement of the short-wools, just as 

 the Leicester has been used in the improvement of the long-wools. 

 Southdowns are not very numerous in this country, their lack of size 

 and rather light fleeces being strongly urged against them. Never- 

 theless, they will always find a place, and every breeder of short-wool 

 sheep must feel a debt of gratitude to this splendid breed of sheep, 

 whose blood has so greatly improved the mutton qualities of almost 

 all the Down breeds. 



Shropshires. This well-known breed originated a little further 

 north in England than the Southdowns. The fact that, at the pres- 

 ent time, it has the largest number of registering breeders, indicates 

 its great popularity. In size, the Shropshire is considerably larger 



