THE JUDGING OF SHEEP 207 



with the rams. Slight wrinkles often occur over the 

 nose, which should be covered with fine, silky hair. 

 The ears also should have a covering of fine hair. Ex- 

 cepting the muzzle, nose, and ears, the head should 

 be well covered with wool. Bareness of the face is 

 objectionable. 



2. Favor shortness of top of neck, with no heavy folds 

 below. 



3. The tendency is towards narrowness at the withers and 

 fore ribs. Thickness is desirable here, with not too 

 prominent a shoulder. 



4. A peaked, droopy rump is a common Merino charac- 

 teristic, but is very objectionable, and should be 

 severely scored. 



5. Look for a thick leg of mutton. 



6. See that the hocks are straight, and that the sheep 

 stands well on all four legs. Defective position is 

 frequent here. 



7. Merino sheep have poorer feet than any other breed, 

 and require careful attention. The toes frequently 

 grow to one side or are too long, and the horn grows 

 under so as to give the foot a bad position. 



In judging breeding sheep of any class, the same essential 

 features must be considered that have already been dis- 

 cussed. 



A heavy condition of flesh is objectionable, a muscular 

 animal in good health being most desirable. Sex affects the 

 character of head and neck. With ewes, some length and 

 refinement of these parts must prevail, while rams must 

 show a larger, heavier, bolder type of face and eye than the 

 ewes, and a thick, muscular neck. The Merino rams, as a 

 rule, have heavy horns at maturity, while the females are 



