British Breeds of Sheep 111 



later, 1861, Mr. John Wilkinson gives his opinion 

 on the influence of the cross: "A judicious system 

 of crossing preserved the good qualities of both 

 breeds. The hard-working qualities and hardy 

 constitution and the superior size of the one have 

 been combined with the smooth limbs, short legs, 

 broader back, rounder barrel, more compact frame, 

 increased flesh, and kinder qualities of the other. 

 The horns have disappeared, the color of the face 

 has turned from white to brown, and there is gen- 

 erally more of the Sussex than of the Hampshire 

 Down left. Still, even in appearance the new Hamp- 

 shire assert their descent from the old Hampshire 

 mothers. They are larger than the Sussex Downs, 

 and more roomy, generally coarser, and of a heavier 

 frame. Their wool is of a large staple and coarser, 

 not so close, and not curling with spiral ends. But 

 however extensively crossed before, the Hampshire 

 blood is now generally kept pure, though there are 

 not wanting, here and there, signs of degeneracy, 

 sheep with tendencies to hairy wool, big bones and 

 heads, and indications of the coarse and unthrifty 

 ewe from which they came." The Hampshire has 

 been shown at the Royal Society Show as early as 

 1844, but the first description of an exhibit was 

 made in 1862, when the subjoined comment was 

 made on those exhibited at the Royal Agricultural 

 Society Show: "The Hampshire Down sheep pre- 

 sented in their various classes the usual difference 



