MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 55 



far backward, and the last rib projecting more than the others; 

 the back flat from the shoulders to the setting on of the tail; the 

 loin broad and flat; the rump long and broad, and the tail set on 

 high and nearly on a level with the spine; the hips wide, and the 

 space between them and the last rib on either side fc as narrow as 

 possible, and the ribs, generally speaking, presenting a circular 

 form like a barrel. The belly as straight as the back; the legs 

 neither too long nor too stout; the forelegs straight from the 

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

 far apart, both before and behind; the hocks 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 to the hock, the wool short, close, curled, and fine, 

 and free from spiry projecting fibres." 



While in many respects this description fits our present-day 

 Southdown, so far as color goes it is a good deal off. Fancy a 

 speckle-faced Southdown in our present-day showyard. A well- 

 known authority has remarked that the Southdowns of Sussex are 

 somewhat lighter in color of face than those of other districts, 

 especially where the land is rich. The Southdown product of the 

 hill farms are naturally not so heavy as those of the lowlands, 

 where roots form a considerable portion of their rations, and thus 

 to his superior method of feeding is due Mr. Ellman's success as 

 a breeder and improver of the Southdown. It is evident that Mr. 

 Ellman did not consider that sheep could travel over the vast areas 

 of poor pasture and be expected to mature early and acquire any- 

 thing like ideal conformation. 



Unfortunately, Mr. Ellman's methods of improvement are not 

 very clearly recorded. Coleman, in his work on the livestock of 

 the British Isles, says, in this respect: "We have but little direct 

 evidence as to the method pursued by Ellman. Experiments were 

 tried, no doubt, and it is possible that either he or the others have" 

 introduced a dash of Leicester blood, which would give quality, 

 but it is not necessary to imagine this." In speaking of the Ellman 

 flock, Arthur Young says : "Mr. Ellman's flock of sheep is unques- 

 tionably the first in the country, the wool the finest, and the carcass 

 the best proportioned. Both of these valuable properties are united 

 in the flock at Glynde. He has raised the merit of the breed b^ 

 his unremitting attention, and it now stands unrivaled." 



Upon retiring from business in 1829, Mr. Ellman sold out 

 his flock at prices which in those days were remarkable. His ewe 

 flock of 770 head of different ages averaged 13 Is. 6d. each; 320 

 lambs, 36s. each; 32 ram lambs, 110s. each; 360 rams of different 

 ages, 125s. each, and 241 wethers, 21s. each. 



It was up to Mr. Jonas Webb, of Babraham fame, to take up 



