CHAPTER XII 
THE MUTTON BREEDS OF SHEEP 
SHEEP in this group vary considerably in the matter of 
scale but are all of the block form already described in 
reference to the beef cattle. However, the leg of mutton 
in the sheep carcass has a greater proportionate value 
than the round of the beef carcass, so that this region 
in addition to the back and loin receives special considera- 
tion from the sheep judge. 
SOUTHDOWN SHEEP. Figs. 65, 66. 
By HT. P. Miller 
375. The name Southdown as applied to sheep arose 
from the use of the term in referring to the low range of 
chalk hills in southeastern England, in Sussex county, 
where the breed was developed. The date at which it 
was first used is not known, but in 1794, Arthur Young, 
in an essay, brought the breed into prominence. The 
breed ranks in the first place for mutton-production. 
376. History in England.— The Southdown breed 
was developed through selection from the native Sussex 
sheep on the chalky downs of southeastern England. 
The native sheep were small, ill-shaped and coarse-wooled. 
About 1780 or earlier, John Ellman, doubtless taking in- 
spiration from the success of Bakewell with the Leicester, 
329 
