THE HAMPSHIRE DOWN. 47 



name of one man generally figuring in the building up of a par- 

 ticular breed, so we find that the Hampshire Downs owe their 

 present excellence in a great manner to a Mr. Humphrey of Oak 

 Ash, "Wantage, Eng., who by careful crossing with the largest 

 and best fleshed of the improved Southdowns, succeeded in pro- 

 ducing a sheep of perfect form, with a strong constitution, and 

 carrying a useful and valuable fleece. All the praise, however, 

 does not belong to Mr. Humphrey, as among the careful breed- 

 ers of this particular breed the names of Mr. Rawlence of Bul- 

 bridge, Mr. Stephen King, Mr. William King, Mr. Moore, Mr. 

 Edward Waters, Mr. Frank Budd, and some others, are divided 

 the honors of bringing this breed to its present state of perfec- 

 tion and excellence. 



The Hampshire sheep were first imported into the United 

 States a short time before the War of the Eebellion, the first im- 

 portation being made to Virginia. In 1855 Thomas Messenger 

 of Great Neck, Long Island, imported a small flock of these sheep-' 

 from England. In 1881 Henry Metcalf of Canaudaigua, IST. Y., 

 imported the ram "Shepherds' Pride." Since this time the im- 

 portations have increased in frequency, the Hampshires obtain- 

 ing their just deserts in becoming more popular year by year. 



The imported Hampshire Down vies with the Oxfordshire 

 Down for being the heaviest of the Down breeds. They mature 

 early. The fact that the Hampshire ram lambs are sold for ser- 

 vice at seven and eight months would go to prove this assertion. 



The ram lamb should have a black face, surmounted by 

 white fleece; a dark tinge round the poll not being desirable, and 

 will materially reduce the value of the animal possessing it. 

 The ears must not be mottled, but should be semi-transparent, 

 resembling a bat's wing. The shanks should be a rich brown, 

 almost black color, free from mottled appearance; the nose of the 

 ram should be thick, the head being large, with a slightly Roman 

 profile; the neck is long and well set on; shoulders sloping; deep 



