172 THE SHEEP AND ITS COUSINS 



they are three-sided, with rounded edges, of which 

 the inner one is always sharper. They rise slightly 

 above the crown of the head, and wind sideways and 

 backwards from the root, forming then a simple 

 spiral turn downwards, forwards, and upwards, 

 while the points turn somewhat inwards. In the 

 neighbourhood of Anau the Afghan Maimene 

 breed predominates. It is a sheep of excellent flesh 

 and large growth. The wool is long and coarse, 

 and the tail long. These sheep are in part horned 

 and in part hornless." 



The tail, as in all the members of this group, is 

 much flattened, and has the under surface, except 

 at and near the tip, bare. A longitudinal line down 

 each side marks the backward limit of the fatty area. 

 The head, with the exception of the forehead, the 

 ears, and the shanks of the legs are clothed with short 

 shining hair, and the remainder with a thick fleece 

 of moderately long and curling wool, mingled in 

 places with short silky hair. In colour the fleece 

 varies from pure white, through yellowish and grey- 

 ish white, to grey, and so on to black. In old animals 

 the hairy areas are mostly white, while the body is 

 dirty yellowish or greyish white. The newly born 

 lambs are covered with a coat of fine, short, silky, 

 wool-like hairs, arranged in closely pressed curly 

 locks ; the colour of the fleece is dark ashy grey, due 

 to the mixture of black and white hairs. In striking 

 contrast to this are the white face and shanks. 



