Classification of Breeds of Sheep. 263 



feed becomes scarce. It is often said that there is 

 more mutton on a square inch of Southdown than 

 on any other breed, a fact difficult to dispute. On 

 the block, the Southdown is hard to beat, for when 

 dressed, it shows a beautiful marbling or mixture 

 of fat and lean meat. 



STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR SOUTHDOWN SHEEP. 



Head medium in size and hornless, fine, carried well up, the forehead 



or face well covered with wool, especially between the ears and 



on the cheeks, and in ewe slightly dished 5 



Lips and under jaw fine and thin ... . .... 1 



Ears rather small, tolerably wide apart, covered with fine hair, and 



carried with a lively back and forth movement .... 2 



Eyes full and bright 3 



Face a uniform tint of brown, or gray, or mouse color ... 3 

 Neck short, fine at the head, but nicely tapering, and broad and 



straight on top at the shoulders 4 



Shoulders broad and full, smoothly joining the neck with the back . 5 

 Breast wide, deep and projecting well forward, the forelegs standing 



wide apart ... 5 



Back and loin broad and stiaight from shoulders to rump ... 7 

 Ribs well arched extending far backward, the last projecting more 



than the others ........... 6 



Rump broad, square and full, with tail well set up .... 6 



Hips wide, with little space between them and last ribs ... 6 

 Thighs full and well let down in twist, the legs standing well apart 6 

 Limbs short and fine in bone, and in color to agree with the face . 3 

 Forelegs well wooled and carrying mutton to the knees, but free from 



meat below 2 



Hind legs well filled with mutton and wooled to the hocks, neat and 



clean below 2 



Belly straight and covered with wool, the flank extending so as to 



form a line parallel with the back or top line ..... 5 

 Fleece compact, the whole body well covered with moderately long 



and close wool white in color, carrying some yolk .... 12 

 Form throughout smooth and symmetrical, with no coarseness in 



any part ............ 9 



General appearance spirited and attractive, with a determined 



look, a proud and firm step, indicating constitutional vigor and 



thorough breeding 8 



Total - .100 



