British Breeds of Sheep 69 



the flock book for the registration of pure-bred 

 flocks. 



The type of old Lincoln. — About fifty years ago, 

 it was said of this breed that none varied more in 

 their character and management because of the 

 fact that they were then bred with a view to suiting 

 both the marsh and the arable districts. There was 

 a conflict of the two types — the old Lincoln and the 

 new with the infusion of Leicester blood. Since then, 

 there has been no need for this outcross, and what we 

 know as the present type has prevailed and become 

 fixed by careful breeding. 



The Lincoln may be credited with being the largest 

 of any of the breeds of sheep at maturity. They are 

 massive, strong-boned sheep, yielding large carcasses 

 and heavy fleeces. 



The face is white, strong-featured, and the poll is 

 comparatively bare or surmounted with a small tuft 

 of wool. The neck does not rise much above the 

 shoulder, which is broad across the top, and as a rule 

 it is exceptional in being very thickly covered with 

 flesh. The back is very wide, level, and strong. The 

 straightness and strength of the back and its cus- 

 tomary wealth of flesh are leading features among 

 the individuals of this breed, though this may be said 

 to be a characteristic more or less an attribute of all 

 the larger white-faced breeds. The width and level- 

 ness of the back is continued over the loin and to the 

 end of the hind quarter. The latter fills out so as to 



