104 BRITISH BREEDS. 



says Mr. EUman," much improved both in shape and consti- 

 tution. They are smaller in bone, equally hardy, with a 

 greater disposition to fatten, and much heavier in carcase 

 when fat. They used seldom to fatten until they were four 

 years old ; but it would now be a rare sight to see a pen of 

 South Down wethers at market more than two years old, and 

 many are killed before they reach that age." 



The following description of a perfect South Down, from 

 the pen of Mr. Ellman, will be valuable to the American 

 breeder, as well as guard the ignorant from imposition : — 



" The head small and hornless ; the face speckled or grey, 

 and neither too long nor too short. The lips thin, and the 

 space between the nose and the eyes narrow. The under- 

 jaw, or chap, fine and thin ; the ears tolerably wide, and the 

 forehead well covered with wool, and the whole space be- 

 tween the ears also. 



" The eye full and bright, but not prominent. The orbits 

 of the eye, the eye-cap, or bone, not too projecting. 



" The neck of a medium length, thin towards the head, 

 but enlarging towards the shoulders where it should be 

 broad and high, and straight in its whole course above and 

 below. The breast should be wide, deep, and projecting 

 forwards between the fore-legs, indicating a good constitu- 

 tion, and a disposition to thrive. Corresponding with this, 

 the shoulders should be on a level with the back, and not 

 too wide above ; they should bow outward from the top to 

 the breast, indicating a springing rib beneath, and leaving 

 room for it. 



" The ribs coming out horizontally from the spine, and 

 extending 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 ; the space between them and the 

 last rib on either side as narrow as possible, and the ribs, 

 generally, presenting a circular form like a barrel. 



" The belly as straight as the back. 



" The legs neither too long nor too short. The fore-legs 

 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 particvflarly full ; the 



