186 



THE AMERICAN TUNIS 



improving the breed by introducing outside blood, and for this pur- 

 pose selected two Southdown ewes. The Roundtree type contains 

 one-sixteenth Southdown blood, and is a marked improvement over 

 the original Tunis breed" (Fig. 128). 



Description. As suggested in the above account, Tunis breeders 

 are attempting to breed a sheep that approximates the ideal mutton 

 type in conformation. In most "pecimens, however, the neck is 

 rather long, the chest lacks somewhat in width, and the legs tend 



FIG. 130. American Tunis ewe and her lamb. Note the tendency toward excessive fatty 

 development at the dock of the lamb, which is more or less characteristic of the breed. 



to be close together at the knees and hocks. With the exception 

 of the long, pendulous ears, the head features indicate quality. 

 In rams the face profile is slightly Roman, while in ewes it is almost 

 straight, Mature rams in breeding condition weigh between 150 and 

 175 pounds ; ewes about 125 pounds. As a whole, the breed is horn- 

 less, but stubs of horns occasionally appear in the males. The color 

 of the hair on the face, ears, and legs varies from a reddish browri 



