OFFICIAL STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE FOB SHEEP 141 



BLACK TOP SPANISH MERINO. 



SCALE OF POINTS. BLACK TOP SPANISH MERINO SHEEP 



REGISTER, VOL. Ill, 1891. 



Blood Purely bred from the Humphrey importation of 

 Merino sheep from Spain, in the year 1802, as bred by 

 W. R. Dickinson, of Steubenville, Ohio 



Constitution Indicated by physical development; deep and 

 large in the breast and through the heart; broad back; 

 very heavy square quarters; skin of fine texture, and 

 pinkish in color; expansive nostril; brilliant eye; 

 healthful countenance and good feeders 15 



Size In good condition, with fleece of five months' growth, 

 full grown rams should weigh not less than 175 

 pounds, and ewes not less than 120 pounds 12 



General Appearance Head carried well up; standing 

 squarely on feet and legs; well rounded body, showing 

 in all points symmetry of form 3 



Body Throughout heavy boned; well proportioned in 

 length; smooth joints; ribs starting horizontally from 

 the back bone, and well around to breast bone; breast 

 bone wide, strong and prominent in front; strong, 

 straight and heavy back bone; heavy muscular quart- 

 ers, deep through and squarely formed before and be- 

 hind; shoulders broad and flat, and not projecting 

 sharply above the back bone, muscles firm and heavy, 

 and body entirely free from folds. There may be a 

 slight throatiness, and a small dewlap smaller on the 

 ewes than on the rams 15 



Head Wide, medium in lengtft, eyes clear and bright, 

 prominent ears, medium in size and covered with soft 

 fur. Ewes should give no appearance of horns, while 

 upon tlhe rams the horns should be well developed, 

 clear in color, and symmetrically curved, without ten- 

 dency to extreme expansion 5 



Neck Medium in length and very heavy, especially with 



the rams, deepening towards the shoulder 4 



Legs and Feet Legs medium in length, set well apart, 

 medium bone and smooth joints. The feet must be 

 well shaped, medium sized, firm and solid 10 



Covering Evenness of fleece and crimp; body and legs 

 covered to the knees; head covered forward between 

 the eyes; the surface should be free from hair or gare 8 



Quality Medium or fine, such as is known in the market 



as tine delaine 7 



Density Shown by compactness of fleece, which should 

 open freely, and have no tendency to be stringy or 

 knotty 7 



Liength At twelve months, growth must be not less than 



three inches, and as near as may be of uniform length 8 



Oil Evenly distributed, white, soft and flowing freely from 

 skin to surface, forming on the exterior a uniform 

 dark coating 6 



Total . 100 



