228 Report on the Exhibition of Live Stock at Leeds. 
and wool, combined with early maturity, while they will bear to 
be stocked more thickly than other breeds of equal weight ; that 
these are the qualities which render them valuable upon the 
fertile soils of the Midland counties ; and that as they can never 
supplant the Southdowns in the districts to which they are so 
peculiarly adapted, they had better maintain the distinctive cha- 
racter they have hitherto possessed, even although l)y crossing 
with the Southdown they might occasionally produce an animal 
more fitted for the show-yard. The one, however, which obtains 
the first prize in this class — Mr. Horton, No. 691 — is not of this 
character; he is quite one of the old school, — a heavy, hardy, yet 
fat-backed animal, only wanting his shoulders better covered to 
be all that could be wished. No. 681, Mr. Crane's, is full of 
quality ; a little closer in his coat than we like to see, but a very 
good one. If he had been a little better behind the shoulders, 
and stronger upon his legs, it would have been an open question 
whether he might not have changed places with No. 691. 
Another of Messrs. Crane's, No. 683, was deservedly commended. 
No. 713, which obtained the third prize, and No. 714, highly 
commended, both belonging to Mrs. Baker, are very neat, useful 
animals, of good size. 
" In Class II., for aged rams, the size to which the Shropshires 
attain was strongly exemplified ; and if there was not among 
them any one possessing the extraordinary merit of Mr. Byrd's 
sheep, which last year obtained the first prize in this class, there 
were many admirable specimens of the breed — and foremost 
among them his half-brother. No. 742, belonging to Mr. Holland. 
This sheep attracted considerable notice at Canterbury, and now 
obtained the first prize most deservedly. He possesses immense 
size, with beautiful form and character. The second prize was 
awarded to Mr. Horton's, No. 728, a real old-fashioned Shrop- 
shire ; lighter in the colour of his face and legs than is now 
sought for ; but this defect, if it be one, is more than counter- 
balanced by the substantial and at the same time level character 
of the animal throughout. No. 738, Mr. Horley's, another 
capital sheep, obtained the third prize ; and 755, Mr. Foster's, 
wliich was highly commended, has an immense depth of frame 
with excellent ([uality. Altogether this was a very good class. 
" But the most striking class of the three was that for yearling 
ewes ; and a glance at the lot from the end of their pens was 
sufficient to show that the Shropshires deserve the notice they 
have obtained. The pen to which the first prize was awarded — 
No. 757, Mr. Foster's — were admirable ; too closely bordering 
upon the Southdown in their character, but so uniform, so good 
in form and quality, that they fairly merited the distinction they 
obtained. But had Messrs. Crane's lot. No. 747, been all like 
