THE MUTTON BREEDS OF SHEEP 339 
very stately appearance and is a very attractive sheep. 
The color of face and legs is a darker brown than that of 
the Shropshire, but it is often flecked with gray, which 
may even predominate on the nose (Plate XII). 
The ewes are very prolific, probably more so than any 
other breed, even triplets being not uncommon. They 
are heavy milkers. The lambs grow very rapidly and 
are of good form, and the ewes yield large fleeces. The 
one shortcoming of the breed is that it does not seem hardy 
under American climatic conditions. It succumbs easily 
to invasions of internal parasites and to pulmonary dis- 
orders. 
393. Uses of Oxford sheep. —Oxfords are especially 
useful to produce mutton lambs to be marketed in the early 
summer, at four to five months of age. Under high feeding 
the ewes of many families will produce 150 per cent of lambs. 
The rams are well adapted for mating with smaller breeds 
for the production of lambs to be fattened at eight to ten 
months of age. There is a considerable demand for pure- 
bred rams for this purpose. Oxfords will yield about 10 
per cent more wool than Shropshires that is rather coarse 
in quality and of long staple. They produce longer and 
coarser wool than any other Down breed. 
394. Distribution. — This breed is found most largely 
in the states east of the Mississippi river and north of 
the Ohio river, and in Canada, appearing not to be suited 
to range conditions. It has spread from its original terri- 
tory in England to almost every country where other 
English breeds have gone, which includes most of the lead- 
ing live-stock countries. It is adapted to small farnas 
where intensive methods are practiced. 
395. Organizations and records. — In 1881, the Ameri- 
can Oxford Down Record Association was organized, with 
