638 SHEEP 



were taken to Massachusetts, but, not thriving on the hills, were 

 generally abandoned. In 1825, however, A. A. Lawrence of the 

 same state "imported 6 Southdowns and 10 Lincolnshires." In 

 1829 Mr. Pickering, also of Massachusetts, imported 2 rams 

 and 2 ewes. It is reported that during the ocean voyage a fleece 

 of 19 pounds was removed from one of the rams. In 1834 

 Isaac Maynard brought the first Lincolns to Ohio from the East. 

 At Buffalo it is said he was offered $500 for his Lincoln ram. In 

 1836 Leonard D. Clift of Carmel, New York, imported some 

 Lincolns. One pair was sold to go to Virginia and another to 

 Ohio for $250 each. Later importations were made by Mr. Clift. 

 The Lincoln has since then been brought occasionally to the 

 United States, though in but a small way. 



Characteristics of Lincoln sheep. The color of the Lincoln is 

 white, although the face frequently has a grayish or mottled color 

 along the bridge of the nose. The head is large and hornless, 

 often broad between muzzle and eyes, tending to Roman character ; 

 the ears are large and broad and are dotted or mottled in color. 

 The Lincoln has a very broad, level back, is covered with a firmer 

 flesh than the Leicester, and shows a greater comparative depth 

 of rib than that breed, not appearing so leggy. The rump is 

 broad and level, and the hind quarter of a thick, meaty character, 

 as a rule, and when heavily fed this is often patchy. The legs are 

 in suitable proportion to the rest of the body, but appear rather 

 large and coarse. The sheep in general appearance impresses one 

 as massive. The wool covering is in rather coarse spirals or curly 

 locks which naturally part along the back and hang down to con- 

 siderable length on the sides. A short foretop, or group of locks, 

 occurs in good specimens of the breed, more than with Leicesters 

 and less than with Cotswolds. 



The size of the Lincoln represents the largest of the British 

 breeds of sheep, though Wallace states that it does not exceed 

 the Cotswold. The author has seen a Wensleydale ram that was 

 comparable with the larger Lincoln. The average Lincoln, how- 

 ever, probably weighs heavier than does the average of any other 

 breed. Rams of this breed sometimes attain a weight of nearly 

 400 pounds, and when in good flesh will easily weigh 300, while 

 the ewes average close to 275 pounds when mature. The standard 



