THE SOUTHDOWN. 37 



the original ancestors. As far back as 1176, a Mr. Alford 

 Young comments on their fine coat, but criticizes the thin chine, 

 low'iore-end and rising back bones. The aim in improving this 

 bteed has been to amend these defects, and in accomplishing 

 this the improvement has produced a readier disposition to fatten, 

 with a heavier carcass, while they still retain their character for 

 hardiness and good rustling qualities. One of the great points 

 of excellence in these sheep, as compared with many others, 

 is that they can stand bad weather, with a correspondingly 

 less loss of flesh, and being good travelers, are adapted 

 for use on the Western plains. There is no reliable data 

 concerning the first importations of this breed to America. We 

 have, however, every reason to believe that some were brought 

 here by the first settlers in the New England States, and as early 

 as 1648 sorne ewes were bought by Gov. Winthrop; also that 

 they were known in Virginia as remote as 1688 there is no 

 doubt, as we find Mr. John Clayton of that period mentioning 

 them,* and praising their mutton qualities. These of course were 

 from the old and unimproved breed, whic*!! have from time im- 

 mermorial been renowned for their mutton qualities, the present 

 improvement being due to the efforts of such men as Ellman, 

 Drake, and Jonas Webb of England, who, like Bakewell, in 

 breeding Leicesters, made certain points of excellence their aim 

 in breeding. We find that in 1803 A. D. Rose imported a small 

 flock of Southdowns to his estate at Eayette, IST. Y. 



Later, in 1824-1828, John H. Powell of Philadelphia, Pa., 

 and Francis Rotch of New York made importations, supposed to 

 have been obtained from the Ellman flock of England. Still 

 later we find Samuel Thorne and L. G. Morris, both of New 

 York, made importations from the best flocks of England, and 

 by 1863 Mr. Thome's flock counted descendants from fourteen 

 different importations, principally from the flock of Mr. Jonas 

 Webb of Babraham, Cambridgeshire, Eng. In 1844 Mr. Jesse 



