64 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP 



ilation of food after birth; the ewe gives only the life and 

 its own substance to its offspring, and while the lamb is of 

 the normal size for the ewe, it has the ability of its sire to 

 grow and turn more food than its dam ever could do into 

 growth. There is no good reason therefore why a well ored 

 Hampshire ram should not be used for the improvement of 

 the smallest of our common sheep. Its natural history goes 

 to prove its fitness for this use under certain circumstances, 

 which make its use desirable for this purpose. 



The recognized points of excellence of this breed are its 

 rather massive head with its prominent Roman nose, and the 

 absence of horns or rudiments of them, as slugs, snags or 

 buds. The face and legs are deep black, the fleece is free 

 from all black spots and is close and fine all over the body. 

 The skin is pink under the wool. The ears are somewhat 

 pointed as compared with those of the Southdown, of a 

 dark mouse color behind, and free from light specks or 

 mottling. The forequarters are broad and the breadth of 

 carcass should be maintained down to the rump. As this 

 is one of the most conspicuous faults of the breed, it is to 

 be guarded against in choosing rams for the increase of the 

 pure bred flocks. 



THE SUFFOLK. 



The Suffolk sheep has only recently come into promi- 

 nence as a breed. It is only since 1886 that it was given a 

 class at the Royal Agricultural exhibitions, but since that 

 time the breeders have formed an association, and by strong 

 efforts have brought their sheep into notice. This sheep is 

 similar in many respects to the Hampshire, but is not so com- 

 pact in form, and the short black hair on the face extends 

 over the head which is thus devoid of wool. It is as yet in 

 process of formation as a breed, and has its history to mnko. 

 It is, as may be seen from the illustration given, a neat, well 

 formed sheep, with a good carcass and something of the 

 Hampshire type about it. 



THE OXFORD DOWN. 



This sheep is a double cross, being made up of the 

 Hampshire ewe, a distinctly cross bred animal, with the 

 Cotswold ram. It is the largest of this class of sheep, ex- 

 celling the Hampshire in si/e at the same age. It is a later 



