382 



SHEEP 



the ears well protected by it, as a defense against the fly. The eye full and 

 bright but not prominent; the orbit of the eye, the eye cap or bone, not 

 too projecting, that it may not form a fatal obstacle in lambing. 



The neck of a medium length, thin toward the head, but enlarging toward 

 the shoulders, where it should be broad and high, and straight in its whole 

 course above and below. The breast should be wide, deep, and projecting 

 forward between the fore legs, indicating a good constitution and a disposi- 

 tion to thrive. Corresponding with this, the shoulders should be on a level 

 with the back and not too wide above ; they should bow outward from the 

 top to the breast, indicating a springing rib beneath, and leaving room for 

 it. The ribs coming out horizontally from the spine and extending back- 

 ward, and the last rib projecting more than others, the back flat from the 

 shoulders to the setting on of the tail ; the loin broad and flat; the rump 

 broad and the tail set on high and nearly on a level with the spine. The 

 hips wide, the space between them and the last rib on either side as narrow 

 as possible, and the ribs generally presenting a circular form like a barrel. 

 The belly as straight as the back. 



The legs neither too long nor too short ; the fore legs straight from the 

 breast to the foot, not bending inward at the knee, and standing far apart 

 both before and behind ; the hock having a direction rather outward, and 

 the twist, or the meeting of the thighs behind, being particularly full, the 

 bones fine, yet having no appearance of weakness, and of a speckled or 

 dark color. 



The belly well defended with wool and the wool coming down before and 

 behind to the knee and hock ; the wool short, close, curled, and fine, and 

 free from spiry projecting fibers. 



All of the above essentially applies to the modern Southdown 

 type excepting color. This is to-day of a rather grayish brown 

 or reddish brown as shown on face, ear, and leg of a much 

 lighter shade than the Shropshire. The fleece has also undoubt- 

 edly been improved in its density, length, and quality over what 

 it was in Ellman's time. The breed is noted for its quiet, docile 

 temperament. 



The size of the Southdown is inferior, ranking as essentially 

 the smallest of the middle-wool class. Yet the compactness of 

 the breed is so distinct that the individuals weigh very heavy for 

 their size. The mature rams will average about 175 pounds 

 and the ewes 135. George McKerrow of Wisconsin, a leading 

 Southdown breeder and importer, reports the following average 

 weights of specimens of the breed, weighed about September i, 

 1889 : Two two-year-old rams, 206 pounds each ; three yearling 

 rams, 153^ pounds each ; two aged ewes, 150 pounds each ; four 



