No. 7. 



South-Doicn Buck. 



221 



SOUTH -DOWN BUCK. 

 The above is a most correct portrait of a Buck ofEllman, of Glynd's famous stock. 



The South-Down breed of sheep are adapted to many situations in the middle states of the 

 Union, and more generally useful than perhaps any other variety. With a patience of occa- 

 sional short keep, and an endurance of hard stocking, they are suited to dry climates and 

 short herbage ; an early maturity scarcely inferior to the new Leicester, with the flesh finely 

 grained, and of peculiarly good flavour. The following is the description of this most valua- 

 ble race of sheep, by Ellman, who has contributed more than any other man to its present 

 improved state and high standing. 



" The head small, and hornless, the face speckled, or grey, neither too long or too short ; 

 the lips thin, and the space between the nose and eyes, narrow ; the under jaw, or chap, fine 

 and thin ; the ears and forehead wide ; the eye full and clear, but not prominent ; the eye- 

 cap, or bone, not too projecting. The neck of medium length, thin towards the head, en- 

 larging towards the shoulders, where it is broad and high, and straight in its whole course, 

 above and below. The breast wide, deep, and projecting forward between the fore-legs ; 

 the shoulders on a level with the back, not too wide above, but bowing outward from the 

 top to the breast ; the ribs coming out horizontally from the spine, and extending far back, 

 the last, projecting more than the others. The back flat, from the shoulders to the setting 

 on of the tail; the loin broad and flat; the rump long and broad, the tail set on high, and 

 nearly on a level with the spine ; the hips wide, and the ribs generally presenting a barrel 

 form ; the legs neither too long or too short ; the fore-legs straight, from the breast to the 

 foot, and standing far apart, the hocks standing outward, and the twist, or junction of the 

 thighs behind, particularly full; the bones firm; the legs of a speckled, or dark appearance; 

 the wool on the body short, close, curled, fine, and free from kempy hairs." 



It is only lately, however, that this breed has been brought to the degree of perfection 

 which they now exhibit ; they were formerly of a small size, long and thin in the neck, 

 high on the shoulders, low behind, high on the loins, down on the rump, the tail set on very 

 low, and perpendicular from the hip bones; sharp on the back, the ribs flat, narrow in the 

 fore-quarters, but good on the leg, with big bones ; the three grand faults being a rising 

 back bone, a thin chine, and a low fore-end : and these are still to be found in many good 

 flocks, few being quite free from them. 



