CHAP. i. SOUTHDOWN SHEEP. 



leaving room for a springing rib beneath ; the ribs coming out horizon- 

 tally from the spine, and the last rib projecting more than the rest ; the 

 back flat from the shoulders to the tail ; the loin broad and flat ; the 

 hips wide ; the belly as straight as the back ; the legs neither too long 

 nor too short, fine without weakness, and of a speckled or dark colour ; 

 the belly well covered with wool, the wool coining down before and 

 behind to the knee, and short, close, curled, fine, and free from spiry 

 projecting fibres ; the flesh fine-grained, and of excellent flavour. Fat 

 wethers used to average about 18 Ib. per quarter ; but this has been 



Photo by G. II. Parsons. 



Fig. 118. Southdown Ram. 



Champion at the Royal Agricultural Society's Show at Lincoln, 1907. 

 The property of Mr. W. M. Cazalet, Fairlawn, Tonbridge. 



considerably increased by late attempts to improve the size of the 

 carcass. 



The sheep have been bred for ages past on the chalky soils of the 

 South Downs in Sussex, and, on such short pasture and exposed situa- 

 tions, the}' are perhaps the most valuable breed in the kingdom. They 

 were materially improved, nay, brought to their present perfection, by 

 John Ellman, of Glynde, at the latter end of the last century, and 

 extended all over the country, their influence on the short-wool breeds 

 being very similar to that exerted by the Leicesters on the long wools. 

 In consequence of this extension and the fact that they became estab- 

 lished in diverse situations and on various soils, there was a natural 

 tendency to a difference of type, and some twenty years ago there was 

 considerable discussion between breeders on this point. Of late years, 



