The various Breeds of Sheep in Great Bintain. 233 
increased and its <^oneral character improved ; the fleece is 
heavier, and the quality of tlie wool is seen by the comparative 
absence of the "kempy" portions which lower the value of the 
mountain breed. Leicosters and South Downs are now met with 
on the rich cultivated lowlands of Wales, while the Cheviot and 
Highland breeds are seen fjradually increasing- even on the higher 
mountain districts of the Principality. Tlie princ ipal crosses are 
with the South Down and the Leicester breeds ; these, upon the 
lowland farms, are very successful. 
Short-iooolled Breeds. 
South Downs. — The name of this breed is taken from the range 
of Chalk Hills which, running in an east and westerly direction 
through the southern portions of the counties of Kent, Sussex, 
Hampshire, and Dorsetshire, are knovm generally as the "South 
Downs." Their elevation is nowhere very great ; their breadth 
varies from one mile to six or eight ; and their surface is firm 
and dry, and covered with a close, short, and sweet herbage. On 
the south side they dip gradually towards the sea ; on the north 
they are bounded by the ricli lands of the Lower Chalk, or of the 
Wealden formations. The entire district is admirably adapted 
for the successful development of sheep-farming, both in the wide 
range and nutritious vegetation of the hill pastures and in the 
climate ; while the proximity to well-cultivated lands stretching 
along their base insures an abundance of keep, so necessary to 
sustain the condition and the character of our improved breeds. 
Tlie South Downs of the present day present probably as marked 
an improvement upon the original breed as that exhibited by the 
Leicesters or any other breed. To the late Mr. Ellnian of Glynde 
they are indebted for the high estimation in which they are now 
generally held. When he commenced his experiments in breeding 
he found the sheep of small size and far from possessing good 
points ; being long and thin in the neck ; narrow in the fore- 
quarters ; high on the shoulders, low behind, yet high on the loins, 
sharp on the back ; the ribs flat, drooping behind, with the tail 
set very low ; good in the leg, though somewhat coarse in the 
bone. By a careful and unremitting attention during a series of 
years to ttie defective points in the animal, and a judicious selec- 
tion of his breeding flock, his progressive improvements were at 
length acknowledged far and wide ; and he closed an useful and 
honourable career of some fifty years with the satisfactory con- 
viction that he had obtained for his favourite breed a reputation 
and character which would secure them a place as the first of our 
short-woolled sheep. The South Down sheep of the present day 
are without horns, and with dark brown faces and legs ; the size 
and weight have been increased ; the fore quarters improved in 
