THE 9HR0PSHIEE. 41 



Belly straight and well covered with wool, the flank extend- 

 ing so as to form a line parallel with the back or top 

 line 5 



Fleece compact, the whole body well covered with moderately 

 long and close wool, white in color, carrying some yolk. 12 



Form throughout smooth and symmetrical, with no coarse- 

 ness in any part 9 



General appearance spirited and attractive, with a determined 

 look, proud and firm step, indicating constitutional vigor 

 and thorough breeding 8 



100 



Cbe Shropshire Breed. 



The Shropshire is undoubtedly a cross-bred animal, and evi- 

 dences a striking £xample of the perfection that may be obtained 

 by judicious crossing of various breeds. The original breed was 

 horned, and it is believed that the first attempt at improvement 

 was to abolish these useless appendages. There is good reason 

 to believe that this was effected by a Southdown cross. The 

 original stock were called Morfe Common sheep, deriving their 

 name from the locality to which they were indigenous, if such a 

 term could be used. They were a black-faced, brown or spotted- 

 faced sheep; horned; not subject to scab, or rot, producing only 

 about forty-four to fifty pounds of mutton to a carcass, clipping 

 nearly two pounds of fine wool to the fieece. These sheep were 

 crossed with the Southdown and afterwards with the Cotswold 

 and Leicesters, the crossing and re-crossing, combined with care- 

 ful selection, yielding the uniformity sought for and obtained, 

 thus establishing the present superior breed. Since 1874 further 

 crossing has been considered unnecessary, the results obtained 

 prior to that time having produced a distinct and separate breed. 

 The Shropshire sheep are hardy, thrive well on moderate keep 



