46 MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



July or August, when about seven to eight months old. Those 

 who wish to see what these lambs can do would find a visit to Sal- 

 isbury Fair in July interesting. 



"The Hampshire Down has been accused of carrying an ugly 

 head, but this defect, however common in years gone by, is now 

 remedied. The ram lamb can scarcely be too dark in feature for 

 the tastes of the buyers, but this must be accompanied with white 

 wool. A dark tinge around the poll will consign a sheep to a low 

 price at once, but dark features and a fair fleece might elevate the 

 same sheep into the region of keen competition. The ears must be ' 

 free from any mottled appearance, and should in summer be like 

 a bat's wing. The shank also should be of rich dark brown colour, 

 and free from mottled appearance. Some distinguished breeders 

 have held a position in spite of a certain lightness of tint, but no 

 light-faced sheep finds favor around Salisbury, which is the capital 

 of the breed. 



"The nose in the ram should be thick and bold, and the ewe 

 should carry a bold head of more feminine character. The char- 

 acter and ampleness of this feature are seen at all ages, and dis- 

 tinguish the breed from Southdowns in a marked degree. The 

 lips are black, as are also the nostrils, and the eye is of rich yellow- 

 brown and large or full. The ears are long, and in the best types 

 fall slightly outward, giving the idea of great width of poll. They 

 are thin and mobile, and are set forward when the animal is in 

 an attitude of attention, giving an idea of intelligence and liveli- 

 ness. The ear of the Hampshire is undoubtedly a character, and 

 differs from the shorter and rounder ear of the Southdown or of 

 the Shropshire. The head is well covered with wool both between 

 the ears and on the cheek. The neck is of fair length, enabling 

 the sheep to stand with head erect, instead of being carried hori- 

 zontally as in the Leicester or Southdown. It is thick and mus- 

 cular, and is considered to be 'a point of special excellence and 

 importance. The shoulder tops are wide, and the girth behind the 

 shoulders and of the entire fore-end must be well marked to secure 

 any attention either in the prize or sale ring. The remaining car- 

 cass points are common to all breeds, and it seems unnecessary in 

 every case to insist upon the importance of well-sprung ribs, wide 

 loins, straight quarters, good legs, square and massive form, etc. 

 These go without saying, and are as important in the eyes of 

 Hampshire Down breeders as in those of any other sheep masters. 

 The fleece is composed of exceedingly fine fibres, and is. thick on 

 the skin, which is pink in color. The slightly Eoman character 

 of the face and the fine wool have no doubt, partly been derived 

 from the old Wiltshire horned sheep, which lies back in the pedi- 

 gree. The quality of the flesh and the color have come through 

 the Southdown, but the color has been deepened by selection. The 

 length of ear has probably been derived from an alliance with the 



