CHAPTER XXXVIII. 



JUDGING THE MERINO OF THE AMERICAN OR 

 CLASS A TYPE. 



CLASSIFICATION OF MERINO SHEEP. 



A classification of Merino sheep according to type, was 



first made public in 1893 at the World's Columbian Expo- 

 sition. This classification was based on the form of body, 

 the prevalence of folds in the skin, and the character of 

 fleece. Class A is a muscular type, tending to be narrow 

 of body, with heavy wrinkles or folds at neck, breast, hind 

 flank, hip and tail-head, and oftentimes minor folds on the 

 side and extending well up on the back. Class B is a 

 stronger, larger sheep, with more mutton form, and carry- 

 ing folds about the neck and breast, and to a slight extent 

 about the hindquarters. Class C, in its ideal form, is a 

 smooth-bodied mutton type, with no folds. However, one 

 frequently sees Class C sheep at the shows, with one or two 

 folds at the neck. The fleece is shortest in Class A and 



Fig. 225. — The three classes of Merino sheep : A on right, B in center, and 



C on left. 



412 



