BREEDS OF SHEEP. 



873 



tempt the gormahd. The Southdown mutton takes pre-eminence 

 above all other mutton in the world. But the Southdown wool is 

 scarcely excelled in quality by ahy produced in any country. Out 

 farmers in the United States have been very successful in raising 



these breeds of sheep, and are constantly increasing their reputation 

 throughout the world by importing from Europe and Asia the best 

 varieties of all the most famous breeds, and improving them upon 

 our shores by mingling them with those which have been brought to 

 greater or less degrees of perfection here. 



The Afghan Fat-Tailed Sheep (Fig. 1158) is a remarkably 

 interesting and extremely valuable creature. The tail of one of 

 these sheep sometimes weighs from 70 to 80 pounds. The fat of the 

 tail is highly valued for various culinary and other purposes. 



