THE TUNIS 



427 



long, but varies notably in color. One animal may have a clear 

 white fleece, another a prevailing reddish tint, while in another 

 reddish fibers may be generally interspersed among the white. 

 The young lambs when dropped are of various colors, — white, 

 red, tawny, and mottled, but this generally changes to a uniform 

 color with maturity. Aside from conformation of head, ear, and 

 tail, the Tunis breed shows more variation than any other on 

 the American market. In temperament they appear mild and 

 easy to handle. 



The size of Tunis sheep varies considerably, but rams are 

 expected to weigh 150 pounds or more and ewes 120 pounds 

 and upward, according to the standard of the Tunis Association. 



The Tunis as a mutton sheep has met with much favor. Early 

 writers bear evidence of a high regard for the breed or its crosses 

 for mutton in the markets of Philadelphia and vicinity. The 

 claim has been made by the few promoters of the breed that 

 on grass alone they will make excellent and fat mutton. In 

 August, 1900, four grass-fed ewes, four years old, sold by 

 Charles Roundtree, had a gross weight in the Union Stock 

 Yards of 470 pounds. They dressed to average about 16 pounds 

 for the hind quarter and 17^ pounds for the fore quarter, and 

 dressed out 56 per cent, an exceptionally good showing. The 

 writer has examined Tunis lambs in October, said to have had 

 no food but grass, which were in splendid flesh for killing. On 

 various occasions Tunis grade lambs fed by Charles Roundtree 

 have topped the Chicago market the day of sale, and have 

 received much favorable stock-yards comment. On August 11, 

 1900, two lambs 150 days old weighed 200 pounds gross and 

 dressed 57.6 per cent. 



Cross-bred or grade Tunis sheep, sired by Tunis rams, are 

 regarded as superior mutton sheep in the market, possessing the 

 easy-fattening characteristics of the pure-bred. 



The Tunis for early lambs has special qualifications. The 

 pure-bred or cross-bred ewe will breed at various seasons of the 

 year, and may be mated in spring to drop lambs in the fall for 

 the Christmas market. The lambs fatten rapidly, and if with 

 dark faces are well suited to the eastern market demand. Doubt- 

 less their use for early lambs will materially increase. 



