50 
THE SHEEP. 
THE SOUTH DOWN BREED. 
necks, and long, though not coarse limbs. The wool was short, fine, and curling, although not equalling in delicacy and 
softness that of the White-faced hornless breed of the western counties, nor even that of the Black-faced varieties of the 
older forests and commons. Both sexes were destitute of horns, at least up to the times of which we have any records ; but it is 
probable that the older race was possessed of horns, like other varieties inhabiting the same kind of country. The faces and limbs 
were covered with black hair ; and a tendency existed in the entire fleece to assume the same colour. 
The modern South Down Breed is destitute of horns in the male and female, has the face and legs of a dusky grey, and has 
the body closely covered with short and curling wool. While the general form of the older breed has been preserved, the too great light¬ 
ness of the fore-quarters has been corrected, the chest has been widened, the back and loins have become broader, and the ribs more 
curved ; and the trunk has been rendered more symmetrical and compact. The limbs have become more short with relation to the 
body, or, in other words, the body has become more large with relation to the limbs. The neck retains the arched form characteristic 
of the older race, but has become more short. The wool comes well forward upon the face, and terminates in a tuft on the forehead. 
The animals are docile in their tempers, and suited to the husbandry of the fold, which is yet generally pursued in the Downs. 
They are capable of subsisting on the short herbage of the drier soils, and yield mutton which has always been held in great esti¬ 
mation. The wethers are usually fattened after having completed their second year, although individuals of superior flocks are 
often ready at the age of about fifteen months ; whereas the wethers of the older breed were rarely killed until they had completed 
their third, or arrived at their fourth year. 
It is to the effects of careful culture under favourable circumstances, that the modern South Downs owe the superiority which 
they have acquired over all the other Short-woolled Sheep of the midland and southern counties of England. With the advancement 
of tillage, and the larger production of turnips and other succulent plants, the breeders of Sussex had the means of treating their 
animals well while advancing to maturity ; while increased attention was given to the selection of the breeding parents, and to the 
consequent calling forth of those properties of form which evince the tendency to arrive at early maturity of muscle and fatness. 
The improvement of the South Down Breed began about the period of the American War, but it received its chief impulse with 
the commencement of the contest with the French Republic, and has continued progressive until the present time. Amongst the 
individuals most distinguished as the improvers of this breed was the late John Ellman. This gentleman began his important 
experiments about the year 1780, when he acquired possession of the farm of Glynde, near Lewis, in the county of Sussex. He 
remained in this farm more than fifty years, during which period he directed his attention, in an especial degree, to the improve¬ 
ment of the native Sheep of the Downs. He pursued his system of progressive change with judgment, perseverance, and zeal; 
and he must be regarded as one of the most skilful and successful breeders whom this country has produced. He displayed none 
of the too narrow selfishness which, it is to be regretted, appeared in the proceedings of his distinguished contemporary Mr 
Bake well. He freely communicated the details of his valuable practice, and showed himself to be entirely exempt from illiberal 
prejudices. He did not experience the necessity of creating, as it were, a breed, but was contented to adopt the basis which was 
afforded him in the one already naturalized in the Sussex . Downs. He did not carry any of his principles of breeding to an 
extreme, but acted under the guidance of temperance and judgment. He sought for the properties of health and soundness of 
constitution, as well as for those of external form, and facility of fattening; and therefore he did not, like Bakewell, confine 
himself rigidly to the blood of his own stock, but resorted to others, that he might infuse fresh vigour into his flocks, and prevent 
them from becoming too delicate. His aim, in short, was the really useful; and, though he reaped the due reward of his enter¬ 
prise and skill, it was never obtained by arts of any kind, by deception, or useless ostentation. His character throughout was one 
of sincerity and manly simplicity ; and it is pleasing to add, that he closed a long and honourable life respected and regretted by 
all that came under the influence of his social virtues. He died in 1832, having entered into his eightieth year. 
Contemporaries and successors of Mr Ellman have pursued with deserved success the cultivation of the South Down Breed, 
which may now be said to be brought to all the perfection with respect to early maturity and fattening power, of which it seems 
to be susceptible. The system of selling and hiring out rams was early adopted, and is now extensively pursued by eminent 
breeders, who devote attention to the rearing of rams as an especial branch of their profession. This is a division of labour highly 
conducive to the perfecting of the breed, and the extending of it in its state of purity and highest cultivation to different parts of 
the country. But the breeders of rams naturally rear the animals under favourable circumstances with respect to the supplies of 
food, and thus a tendency is produced to an enlargement of size beyond that characteristic of a breed suited to a district of downs 
and short herbage. The appropriate localities of the South Down Breed are those which are suited to the lighter kinds of Sheep. 
To the richer and moister plains are adapted other breeds, which produce a long and heavy fleece, and are the native inhabitants 
of districts of abundant herbage. Such are the Leicester and other varieties of Long-woolled Sheep, to be afterwards described. 
Doubtless, the South Down Breed may, by the stimulus of artificial food, and by being naturalized in a country fertile in grasses, 
