THE MERINO OF THE AMERICAN TYPE 



417 



The folds on the American Merino are most highly devel- 

 oped on the lamb, and with age some of these are more or 

 less outgrown. A lamb that appears to be of the A type, 

 at maturity, may belong in the B class. According to.au 

 expert breeder ^ the prevailing fashion is to have from 

 three to five heavy folds on the neck, not large on the 

 upper, but large on the under side ; two or three short folds 

 on and immediately back of each elbow or arm ; fine, thick 



Fig. 228. — "The folds on tbe American Merino are most highly developed." 



wrinkles running down the sides, but not extending over 

 the back. Wrinkles occur across the hips, sometimes from 

 the tail in the direction of the stifle, and sometimes at right 

 angles with them. Folds occur around the tail to give it a 

 wide appearance, and also across the thigh, adding to the 

 depth of flank. These large folds are indications of heavy 

 fleeces. The modern tendency is away from the heavy 

 folds of twenty years ago, yet in spite of that, the best 



' Special report on the History and Present Condition of the Sheep Industry 

 in the United States, 1892, p. 815. 



