486 



THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. 



respectively. The reporter on the sheep at the Royal Agricultural 

 Society's Show in 1889, remarks, " The Cotswold ram, as one saw him 

 at Windsor, is of all south-country sheep most deserving the epithet 

 ' grand.' His rakish-looking ' love-lock,' well-carried head, long, broad 

 back, well-sprung ribs and long curly coat give him a very attractive 

 aspect." The wool, when washed, is of good colour, and averages from 

 6 to 8 inches in length, and the fleece weighs from 7 to 8 Ib. Of late 

 years the Cotswolds have been greatly in demand for exportation. 

 Some time since certain breeders endeavoured to establish a grey-faced 



Fig. 117. Two Shear Cotswold Ram, with two months' growth of wool. 

 The property of Mr. Russell Swanwick, Royal Agricultural College Farm, Cirencester. 



variety, under the name of " Cotswold greys," but we believe only one 

 or two flocks now remain, and the movement may be said to have died 

 out. 



We now come to the short- woolled breeds. 



THE SOUTHDOWN SHEEP (fig. 118) according to Mr. Ellman, who 

 was one of the best judges, as well as a most extensive breeder, of them 

 should have the head small and hornless, the face speckled or grey, 1 

 the under jaw fine and thin, and the whole space between the ears well 

 protected with wool ; the eye full and bright ; the neck thin towards 

 the head, but enlarging towards the shoulders, and there broad and 

 high ; the chest wide, deep, and projecting between the fore-legs ; the 

 shoulders level with the back, bowing outwards from the top to the breast, 



1 A light brown, or brown grey, is now the generally accepted colour. 



