THE SOUTHDOWN 



543 



in fact, in many instances there should be more. A clear pink 

 skin is desired and is very commonly in evidence, though dark 

 spots may occur. The breed is hornless, and abortive horns, or 

 scurs, which rarely occur, are disqualifications. The Southdown is 

 noted for its quiet, docile temperament. 



The size of the Southdown is inferior, ranking among the 

 smallest of the middle-wool class. Yet the compactness of the 



Fig. 246. Babraham Magician 31433, an imported Southdown ram owned by the 



Ohio State University. This is tlie sire of the lambs in Figs. 248, 249, and 250. 



From photograph by the author 



Southdown is such that individuals weigh very heavy for their 

 size. In 1856 Wilson wrote that at two years of age they weighed 

 from 100 to 120 pounds each. Shaw and Heller commenting on 

 the size f state that their deceptive weights cause them to be called 

 "big little sheep," and- assign 170 to 190 pounds for the rams and 

 125 to 130 pounds for the ewes. Coffey ^ credits more weight, 



1 E. L. Shaw and L. L. Heller, " Domestic Breeds of Sheep in America," 

 Bulletin /p4. United States Department of Agriculture, 1914. 

 2 Productive Sheep Husbandry, 1918. 



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