THE LINCOLN 445 



spirals or curly locks which naturally part along the back and 

 hang down to considerable 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 Cotswol^s. 



The size of the Lincoln represents the largest of the British 

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



FIG. 208. Gibson's 155-10858, grand-champion Lincoln ram at the Louisi- 

 ana Purchase Exposition, 1904. Owned and exhibited by J. T. Gibson, 

 Denfield, Ontario. Photograph by the author 



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 very nearly 

 300 pounds, while the ewes average close to 275 pounds when 

 mature. 



The Lincoln as a mutton producer does not rank high. The 

 size is too large, too much fat is produced, and the quality is not 

 the best. When killed during the lamb period a more acceptable 

 class of meat is produced. While the carcass dresses out very 

 well, there is too great a degree of waste in fat and bone to suit 



