British Breeds of Sheep 121 



and ewes. They were shown year after year in this 

 class, but the desire of the breeders seemed to be to 

 get a place among the short-wooled class, and finally 

 in 1861 the attempt was made to show these in the 

 class for "short-wooled" sheep not Southdown or 

 Shropshire. The judges, however, excluded them 

 from competition in this class, but the sheep were 

 commended so, that in December, 1861, the Royal 

 Agriculture Society Council gave them a class, and 

 they assumed the status of a breed. 



Characteristics of Oxfords. — The scale of points 

 adopted by the American Oxford Down Record 

 Association is as follows : — 



Breed type of animals. — Form of a good general appear- 

 ance, made by a well-balanced conformation, free 

 from coarseness in any part, and showing good style 

 both at rest and in motion 15 



Head of moderate length and width between the ears and 

 between the eyes, and well covered with wool over 

 poll and down to the eyes. Color of the face an even 

 dark gray or brown, either with or without gray spot 

 on tip of nose 6 



When fully matured and in good condition rams should 

 weigh 250 to 350 pounds, ewes, 180 to 275 pounds . 5 



Ears medium size, not too thick and of even brown or dark 



gray color 2 



Legs short, strong in bone, flat and of even dark gray 

 or brown color, placed squarely under the body and 



well apart 2 



Constitution. — Large around the heart and wide and full 

 in the chest 10 



