198 THE SHEEP AND ITS COUSINS 



two cushions of fat, and the naturalist Pallas, who 

 saw in Holland tailless fat-rum ped sheep reputed 

 to have come from Cape Colony. 



Mongolia possesses a breed of these sheep dis- 

 tinguished by its rather smaller size, and the minor 

 development of fat on the rump, as compared with 

 the Tatarian type. The skins of the lambs, which 

 come next in point of quality and beauty to those 

 of the Kirghiz and Kalmuk breeds, form an important 

 source of revenue to the nomad Mongols. 



The steppes of Dauria are the home of a breed of 

 tailless fat-rumped sheep reported to be the largest 

 not only of this particular group, but of all domesti- 

 cated sheep, although measurements do not appear 

 to be available. The breed is further distinguished 

 by the small development of the fatty cushions on 

 the rump, which are frequently not larger than 

 two fists and do not weigh more than 10 lbs., and 

 to some extent also by the finer wool, which is 

 much less mingled with hair than in the allied 

 breeds. In other respects the Daurian agrees 

 closely with the Tatarian and Mongolian breeds. 

 These sheep appear to be restricted to Dauria, 

 where they are kept in enormous flocks, which feed 

 to a less degree on saline plants and wormwood 

 than the other breeds, thereby accounting for their 

 smaller development of fat. On the other hand, 

 there is abundance of nutritive herbage to serve 

 as food ; and this, together with the small amount 



