British Breeds of Sheep 75 



of Norfolk close to Ely and by Hitchen, Princess, 

 Risborough, Wallingford, Swindon, and Shafterbury 

 joins the other extremity of the bow near Dorchester. 

 This, broadly speaking, is the chalk formation of 

 England, although it is not always visible, being 

 covered in places by subsequent formation of lowden, 

 weolden, bowlder clays, and sands, and throughout 

 the district from the northern to the southern ex- 

 tremity will be found representatives of the South- 

 down breed of sheep. These downs are chiefly of 

 a chalk formation, and vary in altitude from four 

 hundred to one thousand feet." Another writer 

 presents a contour of the country as follows : 

 "The name of this breed is taken from the range of 

 chalk hills which, running in an easterly and westerly 

 direction through the northern portion of the coun- 

 ties of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, and Dorchester- 

 shire, are known generally as the Southdowns. 

 Their elevation," he continues, " is nowhere very 

 great, their breadth ranges from one mile to six or 

 eight, and their surface is firm and dry and covered 

 with a close, short, and sweet herbage. On the south 

 they dip towards the sea; on the north they are 

 bounded by the lower chalk or the weolden forma- 

 tion." From these writings it is evident that the 

 home of the Southdown consists of rolling upland 

 chiefly of chalk formation, thus insuring sweetness 

 of soil and a growth of nutritious herbage. 



Origin of the Southdown. — It is safe to assume 



