THE WOOL BREEDS OF SHEEP 379 
three inches in length. The head is larger in proportion 
than in the American Merino, the nose strongly aquiline 
and covered with fine, white hair or short, fine wool. 
The rams usually have large, spirally curved horns, 
although horns may be entirely lacking. The ewes are 
hornless. Sometimes the observer is impressed by the 
length of leg. The Rambouillet is also characterized by 
hardiness, early maturity, longevity and prolificacy. 
467. Uses of Rambouillet sheep. — As a _wool-pro- 
ducer, the Rambouillet ranks below the other Merinos in 
percentage of fleece to body weight, and in fineness and 
the amount of oil and crimp, although it ranks well when 
compared with other breeds of sheep. The average yield 
of fleece is about fifteen pounds for rams and ten pounds 
for ewes. 
The Rambouillet fattens well, although not equaling 
the English breeds in this respect, and produces a fair 
quality of mutton. Rambouillets on the ranges have 
great popularity, owing to their large size, hardiness and 
the ability of the ewes to hold their wool well with ad- 
vanced age. Rambouillet ewes are prolific and good 
mothers, and their lambs are usually hardy and strong at 
birth, and come on fast. 
For cross-breeding, the Rambouillet is in great favor. 
Crossed with sheep of any of the mutton breeds it nicks 
well, making a very fine lamb, large, quick to fatten, and 
having a good, heavy fleece of excellent wool. It is also 
used very successfully on American Merinos to produce 
a smoother lamb of greater size and hardiness. 
468. Distribution. — The demand for these sheep has 
been wide, especially for the purpose of improving wool- 
production by crossing on other breeds. Aside from those 
brought to North America, importations have been made 
