THE MERINO, OR FINE-WOOL TYPE OF SHEEP 487 



B having fewer, and C hardly any at all. The skin of type A, 

 according to some Merino authorities, is also thicker, mellower, 

 and more porous than that of C, which is thin and more delicate 

 than the other. 



The fleshing of the Merino of A type is limited in degree, 

 being really a very muscular body with almost no fat. A smoother, 

 better-fleshed body occurs with type B, while C in ideal form is 

 well rounded out, smooth in all the parts, neatly covered with 

 flesh without superfluous fat. 



The wool of the Merino, as has been stated, represents the finest 

 grade produced. This varies in diameter and length, according 

 to the breed or breeding, and is discussed to some extent under 

 Merino families proper. In all cases, however, the fleece should 

 cover the body densely, and the fibers be very fine, uniform in 

 diameter, and carry considerable crimp. The yolk should be suf- 

 ficiently abundant to keep the fleece in superior condition at all 

 times, indicating a healthy condition of skin and body. This yolk 

 exposed to the sun turns darker in color than when shaded in the 

 fleece and so adds to the dirty external appearance. A white yolk 

 is said to turn darker than the more yellow sort. A fleece of a 

 light creamy yellow, being neither white nor egg-yellow, is pre- 

 ferred. A very heavy exudation of yolk is objected to as not only 

 causing unnecessary shrinkage of fleece in washing but also as 

 being something of a drain on the animal's vitality. Present-day 

 wool buyers discriminate against the heavy-shrinking, old-fashioned, 

 fine-wool fleeces. To some extent it is probable that the amount 

 of yolk may be affected by the food. Professor J. A. Craig states 

 that lambs fed grain from birth invariably sheared heavier fleeces 

 than those that had grain only during the latter three months of 

 feeding. The wool should be naturally bright and lustrous, with 

 a clean white color. 



