THE LINCOLN 



445 



spirals or curly locks which naturally part along the back and 

 hang down to considerable length on the sides. A short foretop, 

 or group of locks, occurs in good specimens of the breed, more 

 than with Leicesters and less than with Cotswolds. 



The size of the Lincoln represents the largest of the British 

 breeds of sheep, though Wallace states that it does not exceed 



Fig. 208. Gibson's 155-10858, grand-champion Lincoln ram at the Louisi- 

 ana Purchase Exposition, 1904. Owned and exhibited by J. T. Gibson, 

 Denfield, Ontario. Photograph by the author 



the Cotswold. The author has seen a Wensleydale ram that was 

 comparable with the larger Lincoln. The average Lincoln, how- 

 ever, probably weighs heavier than does the average of any other 

 breed. Rams of this breed sometimes attain a weight of nearly 

 400 pounds, and when in good flesh will easily weigh very nearly 

 300 pounds, while the ewes average close to 275 pounds when 

 mature. 



The Lincoln as a mutton producer does not rank high. The 

 size is too large, too much fat is produced, and the quality is not 

 the best. When killed during the lamb period a more acceptable 

 class of meat is produced. While the carcass dresses out very 

 well, there is too great a degree of waste in fat and bone to suit 



