468 
The Loncaster Meetingt 
feed a ram for show after he has attained maturity seriously 
impairs, and often totally destroys, his usefulness as a breeding 
animal." 
Shearling rams made a creditable display. In placing the 
first two animals, it was necessary to seek the opinion of an 
umpire, the result being that the first prize went to Mr. Colman 
and the second to the Prince of Wales. 
In the class for ram lambs the first prize pen — also from 
Sandringham — obtained its position on account of the lambs 
being so well matched, this, combined with their quality, 
more than compensating for some lack of size. Mr. Lucas's 
second-prize pen looked younger, but were a highly promising 
lot. " We were sorry to find several lambs disfigured by embryo 
horns." 
The Soutlidowns were seen at their best in the female class. 
" Seldom has such a splendid array of ewes been seen at the 
Koyal, and in appreciation of their merits we highly commended 
the whole class."' The Duke of Hamilton and Brandon's first- 
prize winners, says Mr. Gorringe, " were marvellously symmetrical 
and their quality was excellent ; " whilst Mr. Fulcher reports : 
" These ewes remind me of old Babraham days, when Southdowns 
had more colour, size, and strength of constitution than those 
of the present day." The second prize went to Mr. Colman and 
the third prize to Mr. Toop for " pens of the highest merit." 
IIam])sldre Downs. — Of these, 50 entries were made — about 
a dozen more than at Plymouth. Most of the leading breeders 
were represented, and the early maturing qualities of the breed 
wei'e much in evidence. For two-shear rams the first prize 
went to Mr. Robert Coles for a very good sheep, Mr. Frank 
R. Moore's second-prize ram being a " trifle high on the leg." 
Amongst the shearling rams Mr. John Barton took the first prize 
for a massive sheep of good constitution. " Perhaps the best 
sheep in the class took no honours, as he was so fat he was unable 
to stand to be judged ; he belonged to Mr. Henry Lambert," 
Ram lambs mustered in good force, and were very near to- 
gether in several cases. Mr. Lambert came to the front with a 
pen of lambs of high quality; whilst another pen of strong useful 
lambs secured the second place for Mr. Barton. The shearling 
ewes were an excellent lot, and besides the first and third prize 
pens of Mr. William Newton and the second-prize pen of Mr. 
Joshua East, several other pens were noticed. 
Saffolks. — These black-faced sheep were shown in the same 
number as at Plymouth. The Marquis of Bristol was first for 
two-shear rams and for ram lambs, Mr. Edward Gittus being 
first for shearling rams. The "gems of the SuSblks " on this 
