334 



Diseases of Sheep. 



long, and directed backwards ; tlie neck full and broad at its base 

 where it proceeds from the chesty but gradually tapering towards 

 the head^ and being particularly fine at the junction of the head 

 and neck ; the neck seeming to project straight from the chest, so 

 that there is, with the slightest possible deviation, one horizontal 

 line from the rump to the poll. The breast broad and full, the 

 shoulders also broad and round, and no uneven or angular forma- 

 tion where the shoulders join either the neck or the back, particu- 

 larly no rising of the withers, or hollow behind the situation of 

 these bones. The arm fleshy through its whole extent, and even 

 down to the knee. The bones of the legs small, standing wide 

 apart, no looseness of skin about them, and comparatively bare of 

 wool. The chest and barrel at once deep and round, the ribs 

 forming a considerable arch from the spine, so as in some cases, 

 and especially when the animal is in good condition, to make the 

 apparent width of the chest even greater than the depth. The 

 barrel ribbed well home, no irregularity of line on the back or 

 belly, but on the sides the carcase very gradually diminishing in 

 width towards the rump. The quarters long and full, and, as with 

 the fore-legs, the flesh extending down to the hock : the thighs 

 also wide and full, the legs of a moderate length, the felt also 

 moderately thin, but soft and elastic, and covered with a good 

 quantity of white wool, not so long as in some breeds, but con- 

 siderably finer." — Youatt on the Sheep,"^ p. 165. 



* The following is my own account of the points, &c., of the New Leicester 

 Sheep, which, although not so scientifically drawn up, has perhaps the merit 

 of correctness and originality : — The head devoid of horns, and rather small 

 for the size of the animal, with an expansive and flat forehead : eyes clear 

 and prominent ; the part underneath the eyes deer-hke, with black and 

 distended nostrils ; the ears long, thin, and pointed: some countenances 

 have a hUieish cast, whilst others are thickly covered with short white hairs. 

 The neck small at its junction with the head, slightly arched, and gradually 

 increasing in size, until lost in the bosom ; throat clean, and free from su- 

 perfluous flesh. The bosom or chest wide and deep, fore-legs far apart, 

 small bslow the knee, and gradually tapering above, until imbedded in the 

 shoulders ; in well-fed animals the circumference behind the shoulders is 

 very great, with a proportionably decreasing curvature towards the hips. The 

 back, loin, and hips are in a straight line, the fat at the extremity of the 

 latter protruding over the tail, whilst the loin is broad and full ; when in 

 high condition, and possessing perfect symmetry, a small cavity will be dis- 

 covered on handling, running along the back, but more perceivable over 

 the loins and hips. The tail at its base is wide, gradually tapering to its 

 apex. The thighs are fleshy, but not coarse ; the hocks rather crooked ; the 

 bone altogether of the legs particularly small. The pelt or skin is thin and 

 elastic, and the animal covered with wool of a moderate length and fineness, 

 varying in v/eight from 5 to 8 lbs. or more. To this description it may be 

 added that, when the neck is small, the hind-quarters are generally bad, 

 and the constitution delicate ; on the contrary, when the neck is large, the 

 animal is coarse and hardy, but does not possess much aptitude to fatten. 



The Author. 



