exhibited at the Society's Meeting, 1882. 591 
and nice quality of wool. The third prize was awarded to No. 1112, a fine 
well-grown stylish sheep, with a good back and good leg of mutton. 
Class 107 — Shearling Ewes — was an excellent and large class, no fewer 
than 110 being entered. No. 1119 easily took first prize, being ewes of great 
size and excellent quality. The second prize was given to No. 1126, a pen 
possessing fine quality and splendid wool. No. 1128 pen contained five ewes 
of excellent type and good Shropshire character. 
Altogether the breeders of this rising and rent-paying class of sheep fully 
maintained the prestige they had previously obtained in the Royal Show- 
yard. 
Peter Everall. 
Charles R. Keelikg. 
SoUTHDOWNS. 
The South or Sussex Down furnished a remarkable display ; 
although it may be said that such Shropshires as Mr. Mansell 
sent apparently equalled the best Southdowns in neatness and 
excelled them in size. One writes " apparently," because it 
becomes yearly more and more obvious that the skill and judg- 
ment with which the shears and felting-irons are wielded by 
the shepherd, have no small share in the results on the judging 
day. No one can even guess what these sheep weigh. In the 
absence of weight, no one would be inclined to say that the Sussex 
— except Mr. Colman's ewes and a pen of even finer natural 
character sent from Goodwood — seemed to have lost size and 
lean meat. The Judges (and it is a most grave caution) mention 
their impression that good legs of mutton are less noticeable 
with this breed than they were. If so, the aristocratic patronage 
of the last few years has done the breed no good. As it seems 
to me, the Judges at the Royal might fairly be required to notice 
every pen of sheep which is up to a certain standard and not 
liable to disqualification. When from forty to seventy tups enter 
for three prizes, the number of disappointed folk must be large. 
It w^ould smooth down many ruffled feathers if highly com- 
mended and commended cards were more freely dealt out to those 
not undeserving. The entries sent from Cambridgeshire by the 
two Messrs. Jonas, by Mr. Gorringe, and by Mr. C. Chapman, 
and the Duke of Richmond's rams, seemed too good to be 
passed wholly over in silence, because none of these flocks own 
quite such miracle-working clips and tongs as some of their 
more practised rivals. There is not one of the flocks named 
which does not send out most excellent Down mutton, such 
as Dr. Brighton loves. 
Beport of the Judges of Southdoims. 
The Classes of Southdowns were fairly well filled ; all the principal flocks 
being represented. The Judges are ot opioion that they have .seen more 
uniformity of character in a Show of this prime and valuable breed of sheep. 
There were also sheep — in all the classes under their notice — which, having the 
