345 



The Wensleydales are descendants of the old Teeswater 

 breed, itself a variety of the old Leicester and improved by the 

 new Leicesters of Culley. 



a. Oxford Downs, a modern black-faced breed, now widely 

 spread all over the midland counties, are a mixture of 

 Cotswolds with Hampshire Downs and Southdowns, and 

 originated at the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign, but 

 were not definitely so called till 1857. This cross of two 

 distinct varieties, the long and the short wool, has approxi- 

 mated to the shortwool type. 



The Southdown, formerly Sussex Down, an old breed 

 bred for ages on the chalky soils of the South Downs, is 

 ' perhaps ', says Youatt, ' the most valuable breed in the 

 kingdom.' It was to John Ellman of Glynde, at the end 

 of the eighteenth century, that they owe their present per- 

 fection, and they have exercised as much influence among the 

 shortwools as the Leicesters among the longwools. 



The Shropshire sheep is a descendant of the original Long- 

 mynd or old Shropshire sheep, which began to be crossed by the 

 Southdown at the commencement of the nineteenth century. 1 

 They were recognized as a distinct breed in 1853, and since 

 then have become one of the most valued breeds, combining 

 the symmetry and quality of the Southdown with the weight 

 of the Cotswold and the fattening tendency of the Leicester, 

 with a hardier constitution. 



The Hampshire Down is another instance of the widespread 

 influence of the Southdown, being the result of crossing that 

 breed with the old Wiltshire sheep, which had long curling 

 horns, and the Berkshire Knott. They are heavier than the 

 Shropshire, and are perhaps more distinguished for early 

 maturity than any other breed. 



TheSuffolk is derived from the old horned Norfolk ewe mated 

 with the Southdown, and was first granted its name in 1859. 



The Ryeland is a small, hornless, white-faced breed which 

 1 R. A. S.E. Journal (1858), p. 42. 



