BREED CHARACTERISTICS 391 



Points. 



Brought forward .19 



Collar. — Full from breast and shoulders, tapering gradually all 

 the way to where the neck and head join. The neck should be 

 short, thick and strong, indicating constitutional vigor, and free 

 from coarse and loose skin . . .... 6 



Shotjldehs. — Broad and full, and at the same time join so gradu- 

 ally to the collar forward and chine backward as not to leave 

 the least hollow in either place ... .... 8 



Forelegs. — The mutton on the arm or forethigh should come 

 quite to the knee. Leg upright with heavy bone, being clear 

 from superfluous skin, with wool to fetlock, and may be mixed 



with gray . . . . 4 



Breast. — ^Broad and well forward, keeping the legs apart, girth 



or chest, full and deep 10 



FoREFLANK. — Quite full, not showing hollow behind the shoulder 5 

 Back and Loin. — Broad, flat and straight, from which the ribs 



must spring with a fine, circular arch 12 



Belly. — Straight on underline ..... 3 



Quarters. — Long and fuU, with mutton quite down to the hock 8 



Hock. — Should stand neither in or out . ... 2 



Twist. — Or junction inside the thighs, deep, wide and full, which, 



with a broad breast, will keep the legs open and upright 5 



Fleece. — The whole body should be covered with long, lustrous 

 wool ..... . 18 



Total , 100 



Medium Wool. — Shropshire. — The Shropshire is one of the 

 most widely distributed breeds of sheep in existence. While 

 there is some variation in type, the breed possesses certain 

 well-defined characteristics. The quality of the Shropshire 

 is excellent, and when matured for market the lambs and 

 mature sheep make a good quality of lamb and mutton. 

 The quality is exhibited very strikingly in the general 

 trimness of the animal. The bone is medium in size and 

 possesses good quality. 



The size of the rams ranges from 175 to 225 pounds, and 

 the ewes from 125 to 175 pounds. The breed possesses good 

 constitution and exhibits considerable hardiness, although 

 there are other breeds which surpass it. The most striking 

 characteristics are the head which is broad, deep and almost 

 completely covered with wool. The eyes and the extremity 

 of the muzzle are the only parts which are not covered 

 with wool, although in some cases it is so dense that the eye- 

 sight is almost completely obstructed. The fleece is medium 



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