360 DOMESTIC ANIMALS: 
sheep. Horns are not generally found among them except 
on the Dorsets. 
The principal breeds of this class are the Shropshire, South- 
down, Cheviot, Dorset, Hampshire, and Oxford. We can 
give space to only a brief description of the first two, these 
being the most popular in this country. 
The Shropshires are the most numerous breed of sheep in 
America, excepting the Merinos. They are not so hardy as 
SHROPSHIRE RAM 
Merinos, and are not so well suited to the ranges, but they 
thrive well wherever they are given good pasture. They 
rank high both in respect to wool and mutton production, and 
might be termed a good general purpose breed. Moreover, 
they excel in the rapidity with which their numbers increase 
—an important item in the profits from a flock of sheep. 
These considerations account for their popularity. 
