202 THE SHEEP AND ITS COUSINS 



Southern Siberia. In appearance these sheep are 

 stated to present a remarkable resemblance to the 

 Tatarian fat-rumped breed on the one hand, and 

 to the Tatarian goat on the other. Although 

 of large stature, they are somewhat smaller, and 

 also more slightly built than the former ; and 

 always have the lower jaw exceeding the upper one 

 in length. The colouring of the fleece is much the 

 same as in the Kirghiz breed, and the lambs have 

 a very similar, close-curling, Astrakhan-like coat. 



The fat-rumped sheep reared by the Buriatic 

 Tatars of the Lake Baikal district and the Krasno- 

 yarskish nomads of the Yenisei are regarded by 

 Dr. Fitzinger, on account of their general appear- 

 ance, as the result of a cross between the Kirghiz 

 fat-rumped breed and the Bokharan fat-tailed sheep. 

 Intermediate in point of size between the two 

 latter, the Buriatic breed is characterised by the 

 more frequent presence of four horns in the rams 

 than is the case in any of the allied breeds ; the 

 ewes being as a rule hornless, although a few grow 

 horns of the same type as those of the rams 

 but of smaller size. Rams' horns, which are 

 relatively thin at the base, grow to about a foot 

 in length, and form a half circle on each side of 

 the face. When four or more horns are developed, 

 these present considerable individual variation in 

 form and direction. The tail-rudiment is slightly 

 larger than in the preceding breeds, but still forms 



