Practical Agriculture. 
561 = 295 
inimal is covered with very fine and close wool ; and is thus 
lefended from the fly, which is a great pest to the flocks in a 
vooded country. The shearlings commonly weigh 18 lbs. per 
[uarter, and twenty-months old wethers weigh up to 30 or 
)6 lbs. per quarter. Their mutton is considered a delicacy, in 
;omparison with that of some other breeds. 
Southdoicns. — The small, short-woolled, hornless sheep, with Southdown 
lark-brown faces and legs, which are native to the Sussex chalk- breeders, 
lills, have been improved and moulded by many years of 
election and care in breeding, particularly by Mr. Thomas 
oilman of Glynde, Mr. William Rigden, the Duke of Richmond, 
\Ir. Jonas Webb, Lord Walsingham, Sir N. W. Throckmorton, 
^ord Sondes, Mr. Heber Humfrey, the Prince of Wales, and 
viessrs. Heasman, till their light fore-quarters, long legs, and 
langing bellies disappeared, and their points may now be thus 
lescribed : — The head is rather short and small ; the lips are Points of 
bin, the chap or under-jaw is fine and thin ; the ears are Southdown 
olerably wide apart, not too thin and delicate, but well covered ''^'^^P' 
rith wool ; the forehead should be well covered with wool, 
specially between the ears, as a protection against the fly, and 
t should show no " slugs " or budding horns ; the eye is full 
.nd bright, but not prominent ; and the eye-cap or bone not 
irojecting so that it might form an obstacle in lambing. 
The colour used to be speckled or grey ; but a uniform dark- 
)rown or snufF-colour now prevails ; faces level in tint, with an 
bsence of white hair, being preferred. Brown, varying to fawn, 
■r nearly grey, distinguishes different flocks ; and as a rule, the 
'ussex sheep have a lighter shade than Southdowns bred in 
ther parts of the country or on richer soils. The Sussex sheep 
ave also more wool on their cheeks than is the case with some 
arge strains of Southdowns bred in other counties. The neck 
3 of proportionate length, thin next the head, and enlarging 
owards the shoulders, where it should be broad and straight on 
he top, and not what is generally called ewe-necked. The breast 
hould be wide and deep, projecting well forward between the 
ore-legs. This is considered an essential point with graziers, and 
n the prize pen, and gives the sheep a greater degree of weight, 
labile it indicates a good constitution and disposition to thrive. 
The shoulders should be on a level with the back, and not too 
. ide above. If the shoulder-blades are very wide on the top, it 
i generally found that the animal droops behind them. The 
lack should be flat from the shoulders to the setting-on of the 
ail. The xibs should project horizontally from the spine, 
xtending far backward, and the last rib should project more 
tian the others. The rump should be long and broad ; the tail 
et on high, and nearly on a level with the spine ; the hips 
2 Q 2 
