580 Report on the Exldhition of Live Stock at Birmingliam. 
is a magnificent animal all over, with beautiful form, capital flesh 
and wool, and admirable character. The Judges had onlv less 
trouble in this class from his merit being so very striking. Still 
there were others who, in the absence of the chief winner, would 
have been deemed very perfect, especially the grand table-backed 
sheep of Messrs. Duddingand Mr. R. Wright, which received the 
other prizes. As for the ewes, according to the common verdict 
— fully endorsed it will be seen by the Judges — they have never 
been surpassed at any previous Show ; and the same mav no doubt 
be asserted of the Lincolnshire sheep, taken as a whole. The 
first-prize pen came out of Cambridgeshire, and it mav be 
remarked that never before have so many counties furnished the 
Showyard with beautiful specimens worthy of prizes. This 
shows how rapidly this wealthy remunerative kind of sheep' is 
being extended. Mr. Gunnell s sheep were very fine, and matched 
excellently, their lengthv massive forms all appearing as though 
cast in a common mould. With grand character, which no one 
disputed, their right to first place remained unchallenged : but the 
question was asked why, in a class of this high order of merit, both 
remaining prizes fell to one exhibitor ? Here again it is satis- 
factory to find the decision was not arrived at without calling in 
another Judge ; not that there need remain the slightest vestige 
of a doubt as to the correctness of the award, for there were 
impartial and experienced critics amongst outsiders who, regard- 
ing the compact, shapely forms of the Xocton Rise sheep, their 
good looks, heavy fleeces, and uniform character, gave them the 
preference even over Mr. Gunnell's. No one can deny, however, 
that the pens of Air. John Pears and Messrs. Dudding were also 
very first-class indeed. With rare excellence in the general 
exhibits, discrimination must always be reduced to points of 
great nicety ; and it mav be accounted a great honour to receive 
the smallest commendation in such a collection as this. The 
remarks of the Judges are as follows : — 
Class 94 wns an excellent one of Lincoln shearlings ; we have never seen a 
better. There was great difficulty in awarding the first prize, and another 
Judge had to be called in. The first- an<l second-prize animals were very fine, 
their quality of wool and mutton being very first-rate, and we had great plea- 
sure in commending the class generally. 
Class 95 was also good, although smaller in number; but we have seldom 
seen a better animal than the first-prize one, his wool and quality being so 
superior. The second-prize animal was a very fine sheep, but wanted rather 
more wool. 
Class 96. — This was the best class of Lincoln shearling ewes we have ever 
seen, the first-prize pen being full of wool and quality, and the second and third 
prizes we could not award without calling in another Judge, who soon gave his 
decision. We commended the class gcnerallv. 
I!. G. F. Howard. 
T. Porter. 
