70 
Suffolk  Sheep. 
making  a well-defined  setting  for  the  dark,  bright,  intelligent 
eye.  The  depth  of  head  from  the  eye-socket  to  the  angle  of 
the  lower  jaw  should  be  great.  The  lower  jaw  should  be  well 
sprung,  and  stand  out  free  from  any  loose  skin,  that  is  to  say, 
it  should  show  no  tendency  to  run  into  the  neck.  Seen  full 
face,  the  ram’s  head  should  show  great  width  over  the  eyes. 
The  line  of  head  from  between  the  eyes  to  the  nostrils  should 
show  width  without  any  tendency  to  coarseness.  The  mouth 
should  be  large,  but  the  lips  should  be  closely  applied  to  the 
jaws — any  looseness  of  lips  or  any  “ throatiness  ” at  the  jaws 
takes  away  greatly  from  the  thoroughbred  look.  The  general 
effect  is  a clean-cut,  blood-like  head,  combined  with  a general 
impression  of  strength  and  constitution. 
It  may  be  well  to  remark  that  the  head  of  the  Suffolk  is 
not  as  heavy,  nor,  when  seen  from  the  front,  as  wide  as  that  of 
the  Hampshire.  It  is  not  straight  in  profile  like  the  Oxford, 
and  it  is  further  different  from  all  sheep  of  the  same  class,  in 
that  it  has  no  wool  on  the  “face;”  a little  tuft  of  white  wool 
on  forehead  is  not  objected  to,  but  most  breeders  prefer  a 
perfectly  clear  face.  The  well-cut  dai'k  head,  covered  with 
glossy  black  hair,  stands  out  in  marked  contrast  with  the  white 
fleece  of  the  neck,  in  such  a manner  as  to  give  this  breed  a very 
distinct  individuality. 
A tendency  exists,  doubtless  due  to  the  Norfolk  progenitor, 
to  “spud-horns”  in  the  breed.  Male  sheep  showing  these 
small  horns  are  to  be  avoided  for  pure  breeding. 
The  head  should  be  well  set  into  the  neck ; the  back  and 
loins  should  be  strong,  wide  and  firm.  The  ribs  should  be  so 
well  sprung  that  the  flesh  will  be  found  to  be  level  with  or 
rising  above  the  back-bone.  The  dock  must  be  broad,  thick, 
and  well  covered  with  firm  flesh.  The  hind  legs  must  be 
well  filled. 
Most  important  of  all,  the  Suffolk  ram  must  stand  well  on 
his  legs,  and  have  true,  sound  joints.  Great  size  is  not  so 
desirable  as  type  perfection  in  points  and  symmetry.  The 
dam  should  have  width  and  size  of  frame,  the  sire  quality. 
The  Ewe. — The  head  should  be  distinctly  feminine,  with 
a full  bright  eye.  It  should  be  long  from  the  eye  to  the 
muzzle,  which  should  be  fine.  The  fore-quarter  should  not 
be  as  heavy  as  in  the  case  of  the  ram.  Formation  at  shoulder 
or  more  accurately  over  the  shoulder  is  much  insisted  upon  by 
Suffolk  breeders,  and  in  this  respect  probably  they  differ  from 
some  of  their  colleagues  who  rear  other  varieties.  In  a lecture  1 
on  Sheep-breeding  given  by  the  late  Mr.  Hy.  Lingwood,  C.C. 
1 Lectures  delivered  to  shepherds  at  Needham  Market,  November  and 
December,  1898,  published  at  Ipswich  by  S.  & W.  J.  King,  Princes  Street,  for 
the  East  Suffolk  County  Council  Technical  Instruction  Committee. 
