156 
THE LEICESTER SHEEP. 
PLATE XIV. 
Among all the artificial breeds of animals, a cer- 
tain standard has been generally fixed, which is sup- 
' posed to combine the greatest excellences, according 
to the purposes for which the animal is employed ; 
and it may be here proper to notice what has hitherto 
been considered as the most perfectform of the sheep, 
and which is equally applicable to every bi-eed, as 
the nearer they approach to this standard, so it is 
thought they will be most profitable to the owners. 
“ The head of the ram,” writes Mr Culley, “should 
be fine and small, his face white, nostrils wide and 
expanded, his eyes prominent, and rather bold or 
daring, ears short and thin, his collar full from his 
breast and shoulders, but tapering gradually all the 
way to where the neck and head join, which must 
be very fine and graceful, being perfectly free from 
any coarse leather lianging down ; the shoulders 
broad and full, which must at the same time join so 
easy to the collar forward, and crops backward, as 
to leave not the least hollow in either place ; the mut- 
ton upon his aim or fore thigh must come quite to 
the knee ; all his legs white and upright, with a clean 
