236 Tlie various Breeds of Sheep in. Great Britain. 
Shropshire Downs. — In our early records of sheep farming 
Shropshire is described as possessin<r a peculiar and distinct 
variety of sheep, to which the name of ' Morfe Common ' sheep 
was siven, f om the locality to which the breed was principally 
confinetl. This is a tract of land on the borders of the Severn, 
near Bridfrenorth, which, originally of vast area, has of late been 
considerably diminished in extent under the influence of cultiva- 
tion and the general improved condition of the country. In 
1792, when the Bristol Wool Society procured as much informa- 
tion as possible regarding sheep in England, they reported as 
follows in reference to the Morfe Common breed : — " On Morfe 
Common, near Bridgenorth, which contains about 600,000 acres, 
there are about 10,000 sheep kept during the summer months, 
which produce wool of superior quality. They are considered 
a native breed — are black-faced or brown, or a spotted faced, 
horned slieep, little subject either to rot or scab — weighing, the 
wethers from 1 1 lbs. to 14 lbs., and the ewes from 9 lbs. to 11 lbs. 
per quarter, after being fed with clover and turnips ; and clipping 
nearly 2 lbs. per fleece, exclusive of the breeching, which may be 
taken at one-seventh or one eighth part of the whole. The fine 
wool sells at 2.?. per lb., and the breeching at Is. per lb., making 
the produce of the fleece about 3s. 2cl. It is sold to Yorkshire." 
This appears to have been the original stock from which the 
present breed of Shropshire Downs has sprung. As the country 
advanced, and the breeds became valuable for their carcases as 
well as for their wool, the Morfe Common sheep were crossed 
with other breeds, but more particularly with the long-woolled 
Leicesters and Cotswolds, or the short-woolled South Downs, 'i he 
admixture of such difterent blood has produced a corresponding 
variation in the characters of the present breed of Sliropshire 
Downs, and has tended materially to sustain the hesitation which 
still exists to allow them a place as a distinct breed. Where, 
however, tlie original cross was with the South Down, and the 
breed has been continued unmixed with the long-woolled sheep, 
they present the characteristics of a short-woolled breed, and as 
such are already recognised in the Yorkshire and other markets. 
At the Gloucester Meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society 
(1853) the breed was well represented, anil a large number ex- 
hibited, which were thus referred to in the Report : — " The new 
class of Sliropshire Downs was very successful, and it is to be 
hoped that the Society will recognise them as a distin< t breed." 
These sheep are without horns, with faces and legs of a grey or 
spotted grey colour; the neck is thick, with excellent scrag; 
the head well sliaped, rather small than large, with ears well set 
on ; breast broad and deep, back straight, with good carcase ; 
hind quarters hardly so wide as the South Down, and the legs 
