FAT-RUMPED SHEEP 195 



there may be two pairs. When there is only a 

 single pair, the horns are thick at the base, from 

 which they rapidly narrow to the tip, forming a 

 double snail-like spiral on the sides of the head ; 

 when horns are developed in the ewes they form 

 only a half-circle. The throat is furnished with a 

 distinct dewlap, extending downwards to the chest. 

 The most distinctive feature is, however, the ex- 

 cessive development of fat on the rump, which 

 takes the form of two great cushions, divided by a 

 median cleft, on the buttocks ; the upper surface of 

 these being clothed with wool and hair, while the 

 contiguous inner surfaces are bare. Between these 

 two great fatty cushions is embedded the minute 

 vestige of the tail, the position of which can only 

 be ascertained by feeling with the finger ; its skeleton 

 contains only three vertebrae, with a combined length 

 of about 3 J inches. The head, ears, and shanks 

 are clothed with short, smooth hair, which is con- 

 tinued on to the neck, under-parts, and rump with 

 a certain admixture of wool ; but the rest of the 

 body carries a fleece of rough, shaggy wool of 

 variable length, mingled in places with hair. Al- 

 though these sheep are usually uniform white, they 

 may be rusty or dark brown, black, or silver-grey ; 

 often, however, the head and ears are black, or 

 white with brown or black patches, and the body 

 white. Frequently also there may be black patches 

 on the shanks, and a long white streak on the back 



