242 AMERICAN MERINO SCALE OF POINTS. 



Description and Scale of Points of American Merino Sheep. 



Adopted by the Michigan Merino Sheep Breeders' 



Association. 



Ram. 



Weight. In full fleece, 160 to 185 pounds. 



Feet. Sound, level, free from thickness or elongated toes. 



Legs. Straight, heavy, well covered and wide apart. 



Head. Densely covered for not less than one inch below the 

 eyes; wide between the eyes and ears; horns heavy, uniform, 

 fine grained, with first turn one and a half inches from jaw;, 

 ears medium length, thick, velvety, free from tan marks; 

 eyes large, spirited and expressive; nose prominent, velvety, 

 wrinkled, with wide nostrils, and free from specks; lips even 

 and well closed. 



Neck. Thick, medium length, heavily folded with pliable 

 skin. 



Shoulders. Deep and rising one to two inches above level 

 of back. 



Back. Level, broad and well supported by shoulders and 

 hips. 



Ribs. Well sprung and extending near to hip bone. 



Brisket. Deep, and extending well forward. 



Hips. Slightly sloping and arch shaped. 



Flank. Deep, with heavy folds. 



Fleece. Very dense, fine, evenly crimped its entire length, 

 and the nearer uniform on every part of the body, including 

 folds and extremities, the better. Staple, 2*4 to 3 inches in 

 length, measured on sheep at one year's growth. Oil free, buff 

 in color, and evenly distributed. Weight from 25 to 35 pounds. 



Folds and Wrinkles. Heavy on neck, and medium about 

 flank and tail; one or two folds back of forelegs, and one or 

 two back of hindlegs, with more or less on hip and belly. 



Ewe. 



Feet. Same as in ram. 

 Legs. Same as in ram. 



Head. Ears, eyes, nose and lips same as in ram, but more 

 feminine in character, with no semblance of horns. 

 Neck. Thinner than in the ram and apparently longer. 



