EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 443 



At the Leeds show of 1861 there was a large showiug of shearling 

 rams, the greater portion of which were Oxfordshires, which were ex- 

 chided from competition, as they were not considered as coming within 

 the categoryof short-wooled sheep. Thestewards in their report stated: 



At the same time the judges are of opinion that the Oxfordshire Downs should mot 

 be excluded from competition at these annual shows, as they believe them to be ani- 

 mals possessing great merit, and worthy of having a class to themselves. 



The society accorded the breed a separate class, and the Oxfordshire 

 Downs made their first appearance as a recognized breed by the great 

 society in the year 1862, at Battersea, where they nnmbered sixty-two 

 entries, and were highly spoken of by the judges, who, however, objected 

 to their want of uniformity. The same objection was made at the New- 

 castle show in 1864, when the judges said they " still exhibit a consider- 

 able diversity of color in their legs and faces, but the tendency seems 

 as much as possible toward the dark faces and to the retention of the 

 Cotswold topknot; some were a little too high on the leg." Similar 

 traces of a departure from uniformity were remarked upon by the judges 

 at the annual shows in 1865 and 1868. 



From this time a greater fixedness of type was secured, and the re- 

 ports of the judges and stewards of the annual shows in 3870 and 1872 

 give high praise for the general excellence and great improvement in 

 uniform character. There was still to be seen, however, a difference 

 in type in the rams offered to the public; but, knowing that a heavy 

 fleece could be obtained with wool thickly set on the skin, and holding 

 the opinion that a fine quality of mutton was not to be found under an 

 open coat, judges thought a great advance would be made, and they 

 have not been disappointed. For rent-payers in England the Oxford- 

 shires are thought not to be excelled, and with then- robust constitu- 

 tions and early maturity, bearing as they do such an abundant supply 

 of mutton and wool, they have made their way into most counties, and 

 many hundreds of rams are yearly sold by the different breeders. 



The Oxfordshire is a well formed, round bodied, short legged, mutton 

 and wool combined sheep. It about equals the Hampshire in size, an 

 average weight for mature breeding rams being between 200 and 225 

 pounds, while 2-year old fat wethers are frequently found weigbjlng up- 

 wards of 275 to 300 pounds. The following figures, taken from the 

 Smithfield Club show catalogue, and given by Coleman in his " Sheep 

 of Great Britain," will give some idea of the live weight of a pen of three 

 shearlings when about 22 months old : 



Shearling wetliera . 

 Shearling wethere . 



Ewes 



Ewes 



