Karakul Sheep. 517 



karakuls the wool makes its appearance after the animal is beyond 

 tlie age when its pelt is of value for the purpose of making furs, and 

 is consequently of no account in breeding' fur pelts. Many lambs do, 

 however, show woolliness in their lamb covering-, and as the wool 

 present in the former cases may, for all we know, express itself 

 earlier in the animal's life at any time, the best rule to follow is to 

 avoid wool of any form in a karakul of any age. 



It is sometimes difficult to find wool on a g'ood karakul without 

 the aid of a microscope. If any breeder tbinks he has such an animal 

 let him look carefully behind the head, round the bases of the 

 ears, on the belly, and round the base of the tail. If he finds no 

 woolly substance there, he can be satisfied that lie has in his posses- 

 sion a most valuable sheep. 



In judging the woolliness of the average karakul, however, 

 allowance must be made for age. Almost invariably some hair will 

 be found on the rump and upper leg, which will indicate what the 

 fleece was like when the animal was at its best. 



The value of the fleece is dealt with under the heading of 

 " Management." The covering of the lambs is quite different from 

 that of the adult, being jet black, lustrous, and curly. 



III. 



Lambs : Their Pelts and Their Classification. 



As karakul sheep are bred chiefly as fur-bearing animals, and 

 as their value in that direction lies in the pelt of the young lamb, 

 the greatest attention should be given to the study of the lambs 

 when the pelts are at their best. This is when tlie lambs are from 

 0-4 days old, when the most desirable pelts should be jet black and 

 exceedingly glossy. The quality of the hair should be kindly to the 

 touch and fairly soft, and the tips of the individual hairs should be 

 so curled so as to be tucked away out of sight, thus giving the pelt a 

 smooth appearance. If these tips are not so hidden the pelt has a 

 ragged appearance, which detracts greatly frour its value as a fur. 

 The curls should be tight, and much of the value depends upon the 

 irregular arrangement of the curls all over the body. The most 

 desirable kind of curl is that known as the pipe or caterpillar. Here 

 the curls are caterpillar-shaped, about the thickness of an ordinary 

 lead pencil in diameter, and of various lengths. Such curl is seen 

 on the lambs in Plates 3 and 5. In classing young lambs with 

 pipe-curl careful note is made whether the curl is heavy, medium, 

 or light, depending upon the diameter of the pipe. These pipes vary 

 considerably in length and may lun in any direction, often forming 

 most artistic designs. Another verj- desirable kind of curl is that 

 to which the name walnut has been given. This curl is difficult to 

 describe. It resembles the edible portions of a walnut which has 

 been broken in half, and appears to be formed by the hair growing 

 out in all directions from given points. 



This curl rarely, if ever, appears over the whole surface of the 

 body, being usually associated with pipe curls. A third valuable kind 

 of pelt is that known as the " watered silk,'' in which clearly defined 

 curls seldom occur, most of the pelt being covered with hair thrown 

 into strong, firm, irregular corrugations. The highest lustre is found 

 on skins of this type, which is indeed the nearest approach to the 



