694 Ueport on the Slieep JExhihUed at Windso'i'. 
been made. The Hampshire Downs are a prominent instance 
of a breed which has been developed. The old Wiltshire horned 
sheep and the Berkshire Knot were improved by crossing with 
the Southdowns about the beginning of the century. It so hap- 
pened, however, that two diverse views obtained, and from 1815 
to 1835 Hampshire Downs of the north of Hants and the south 
of Wilts were totally dissimilar in character. About 1845, 
according to Mr. E. P. Squarey,' when the Hampshire Downs 
were gradually asserting their superiority over the Southdowns 
in the counties of Wilts, Hants, and Dorset, the necessity for an 
improvement in the general quality and tendency to make flesh 
was apparent. In the hands of a few skilful breeders these 
qualities were developed, and with so much success that the 
breed has now for many years held a position of supremacy iu 
the matter of early maturity. As now established, the Hamp- 
shires differ markedly from other varieties of Down sheep. 
They are bigger and more upstanding than the Southdowns, 
while of late years there has been a great improvement in the 
symmetry of the barrel, and a development of greater thickness 
through the heart and more evenness on top. They retain the 
blackness of face and legs, the " Roman " profile, and the 
" sourness " of the head which characterise the breed and 
indicate its origin. These points are, indeed, much prized by 
the breeders, who justly pride themselves on the increasing 
popularity of the breed. 
Hampshire Downs made their first distinctive appearance at 
a Royal Show in 1857, when prizes were offered for them by 
the Salisbury Local Committee. At Windsor there were seventy- 
eight entries, and the display, as the Judges remark, was one of 
exceptional merit. The prizes were won by Messrs. Robert 
Coles, Frank R. Moore, T. F. Buxton, and Joshua East, and the 
Downton College of Agriculture. 
Jieport of the Judges of Hampshire Doivn Sheep. 
[Classes 185 to 188.] 
The show of Hampshire Sheep was an exceedingly good one, larger in 
numbers and better in quality than has ever been seen at the " Royal." 
Class 185. Tioo-shear Rams. — Though they did not come up to the 
Shearlings and Ram Lamb Classes in numbers, they included a few animals 
of rare merit, notably the First (Mr. Coles's) and Second (Mr. Moore's) 
Prize winners. 
Class 186 — Shearling Rams — was a very large and exceptionally good 
Class, containing 21 exhibits, nearly the whole of which were of great 
merit ; the Prize winners have rarely been equalled, and never excelled. 
Class 187 — Pen of Three Ram Lambs — for which the Hampshire Downs 
In Coleman's Shee^ of Great Britain, 
