16 BULLETIN 94, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
The following is the standard of excellence for Southdown sheep: 
Points. 
Head medium in size and hornless, fine, carried well up, the forehead or face well 
covered with wool, especially between the ears and on the cheeks, and in the 
ewe slightly dished 5 
Lips and under jaw fine and thin 1 
Ears rather small, tolerably wide apart, covered with fine hair, and carried with 
a lively back-and-forth movement 2 
Eyes full and bright 3 
Face a uniform tint of brown, or gray, or mouse color 3 
Neck short, fine at the head, but nicely tapering, and broad and straight on top 
at the shoulders 4 
Shoulders broad and full, smoothly joining the neck with the back 5 
Breast wide, deep, and projecting well forward, the forelegs standing wide apart. . . 5 
Back and loin broad and straight from shoulders to rump 7 
Ribs well arched, extending far backward, the last projecting more than the 
others 6 
Bump broad, square, and full, with tail well set up 6 
Hips wide, with little space between them and last ribs 6 
Thighs full and well let down in twist, the legs standing well apart 6 
Limbs short and fine in bone, and in color to agree with the face 3 
Forelegs well wooled and carrying mutton to the knees, but free from meat below. . 2 
Hind legs well filled with mutton and wooled to the hocks, neat and clean below. . 2 
Belly straight and covered with wool, the flank extending so as to form a line 
parallel with the back or top line 5 
Fleece compact, the whole body well covered with moderately long and close 
wool, white in color, carrying some yolk 12 
Form throughout smooth and symmetrical, with no coarseness in any part 9 
General appearance spirited and attractive, with a determined look, a proud and 
firm step, indicating constitutional vigor and thorough breeding 8 
100 
THE SHROPSHIRE. 
Although little more than half a century old, the Shropshire is to- 
day the most popular breed of medium-wool sheep. They attracted 
little attention prior to 1848, when they first received the name they 
now bear. They were first recognized in the prize lists of the Royal 
Show held at Wiltshire in 1857, but did not receive a place as a dis- 
tinct breed until 1859, when the show was held at Warwick. 
The breed originated in Shropshire, or Salop, as it is sometimes 
called, and the neighboring county of Stafford, in west-central 
England, Shropshire being bounded on the west by Wales. 
Authorities are not all of the same opinion as to the exact origin 
of this breed, but it is quite generally agreed that the Morfe Common 
were the foundation stock, this being improved by the introduction 
of Southdown, Cotswold, and Leicester blood. The Longmynd, the 
Clun Forest, the Cannock Chase, and the Whittington Heath are also 
considered by some authorities as being involved in the evolution of 
this breed. 
