416 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



greater size. The consequence was that from about 1815 to 1355 'the 

 Hampshire Downs of the north of Hants and the south of Wilts were 

 totally dissimilar in character. It was evident that the leading rain 

 breeders of each district had aimed at and secured a different type. 

 The North and East Hampshire sheep were large, muscular, early ma- 

 turing animals, growing a fair quality of wool of moderate fineness 5 the 

 head large and well set on, of dark brown color verging toward black, 

 covered with coarsish hair, with Eoman nose; the neck with greatly 

 developed muscles ; the ears thick, of the same color as the face, and 

 an occasional tendency to recur to the original type by producing "snig 

 horns;" the legs with large bones, and in the most strongly marked type 

 the wool growing below the hocks and knees. An occasional white 

 spot was exhibited on the face, ears, or legs, but the efforts of the ram 

 breeders were uniformly directed to avoid this, and to procure perfect 

 uniformity of color. On the other hand the Wiltshire breeders had 

 adopted a more largely framed and probably less handsome ani- 

 mal than their Hampshire brethren. They were less careful as to the 

 uniformity of color, and an ewe with speckled face or ears was not dis- 

 missed from their flocks, provided she had size and other good quali- 

 ties.* 



The Hampshire breeders, as a rule, selected the largest, coarsest, 

 and blackest faced Sussex or Southdown rams, which it was thought 

 would suit the coarse sheep with which they had to amalgamate. How 

 many crosses were made is not known, but enough materially to alter 

 the character of the breed, to cause the horns to disappear, and to 

 change the color of the face from white to black; to impart a more 

 compact form, a broader back, rounder barrel, shorter legs, and su- 

 perior quality altogether, and yet preserving the hardiness and dispo- 

 sition to make early growth, which the original flocks possessed, and 

 with it the large head and Koman nose which form so distinguishing 

 a character of the Hampshire Downs, and which are derived from the 

 original breed. Having thus formed a sheep desirable in every respect, 

 except the size of the head, the breeders began reducing the size of 

 the head, which, by careful selection, was accomplished, and finally a 

 breed was formed or rather established admirably adapted to the sys- 

 tem of fattening off at earlier ages than formerly. 



The Hampshire sheep may therefore be instanced as an example of successful 

 crossing, and as a proof of what can be done by the male parent in changing in a 

 very few generations the character of the originals, and yet retaining some of its 

 good qualities, thus forming a breed more intrinsically valuable than either source 

 from whence it is derived, t 



Mr. Spooner had no reason to believe that after a few generations 

 the Hampshire breeders continued to use the Southdown rams. As 



*The Hampshire or West Country Down Sheep, by E. P. Squarey. 

 t Spooner on Cross Breeding. Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, 

 Vol. xx. 



