46 JUDGING HORSES 



disposition valuable indications of future usefulness for 

 breeding purposes. 



77. Differences in Topm. In the development of the sexes 

 marked differences in form result. The true male form is 

 heavier at the shoulders than the female while the latter is 

 wider in the region of the pelvis. This should be borne in 

 mind in critically examining animals of the different sexes, 

 for it may oftentimes prevent an adverse criticism which 

 should be favorable comment. It is not infrequent to hear 

 the remark passed that a ram lor instance, in a breeding 

 class, would be an exceptionally good sheep if he were as 

 wide behind as he is in front. This is thought by .some to 

 be the striking defect of our mutton breeds (and perhaps it is) 

 but in many instances it is but the universal pattern that 

 nature has adopted for the male form, A male of any class 

 of stock should be expected to be wider in the chest than 

 bL-hind though it should not be weak in the latter part. 

 Width of hip, however, is not the chief qualification of the 

 female form; depth in this region or length of the barrel and 

 from rib to hip, is of more importance as this makes provis- 

 ion for the proper growth of the foetus. 



78. Variation in Features. There are many marked vari- 

 ations in the features that are characteristic of the difference 

 in the sexes. In the stallion the face has a harder look and 

 the head is larger. The neck is fuller and the crest or swell 

 of the neck is very pronounced and surmounted with a heavy 

 mane. The mare has a slimmer face with a softer expres- 

 sion, the neck is thin and often ewe shaped and the mane 

 light and fine. In cattle the face of the bull is more or less 

 burly and covered with wavy hair, the horn is strong and 

 inclined to roundness while the neck is thick and stout with 

 a full crest. In the cow the face is long, free from wavy 

 hair, the horn light and flat and the neck thin and in-curved 

 on the top line. In sheep the face of the ram is shorter and 

 heavier and the neck has a heavy ' ' scrag ' ' or crest. The 



