212 Statistics of Live Stock for Consumptiun in the Metropolis. 
back upon ; and more than ordinary care is now required to 
secure this important point, otherwise the country may present 
few other than mon<;rel animals of comparatively little value either 
to the butchers or the breeder. 
So mixed have become the races of sheep, that it is a matter 
of no ordinary difficulty accurately to define the percentage of 
each breed exhibited in the past year. The annexed statement, 
however, is a fair reflex of each breed : — 
Sheep shown in tite Metropolitan Marhet in 18(52. 
Percentage, 
Lincolns 22-00 
Leicestcrs 22-50 
South Downs and Hampshire Downs .. 15-00 
Crosses, including foreiL'n 21-00 
Gloucesters and Gloucester Downs .. .. 7-00 
Kents .'-i-OO 
Scotch 1-00 
Irish 2-00 
Dutch 3-50 
German 2-CO 
Danish .. .. I'OO 
100-00 
In 1858 the percentage was as follows : — 
Percentage. 
Lincohis 27-00 
Leicestcrs 25-00 
South Downs and Hampshire Downs .. 10-00 
Crosses 15-25 
Gloucesters and Gloucester Downs .. .. 8-00 
Kents 5-00 
Scotch 1-00 
Irish 3-00 
Dutch .. ^-50 
German I'OO 
Spanish 0-25 
100-00 
Here we find a great falling off in Lincolns and Leicestcrs, but 
a very large increase in the crosses. The Kentish sheep have 
given way before the lattet ; and it may be a matter of doubt 
in some cpiarters whether the pure Leicestcrs have not fallen in 
a greater ratio than is shown above. However, one thing is very 
clear, viz. that crossing is rapidly l)econyng general, and that 
eventually there may be a great scarcity of pure stock in the 
country. In 1838 the percentage for Lincolns was as high as 
31-00, and for Leicestcrs 21)*00, whilst crosses figured for only 
13-00, Now, including the foreign imjiorts, they amount to 
