2o6 THE SHEEP AND ITS COUSINS 



photograph sent me by Dr. R. E. Drake-Brockman 

 carries a small pair of horns. 



Writing of these sheep, Mr. Brockman informs 

 me that Somalis will not keep any other, or cross 

 these with any other breed, believing that they 

 have reached as near as possible to perfection, so 

 far as the needs of their own country are concerned. 

 And there is doubtless a good deal in this, since 

 not only is the mutton of these sheep excellent, but 

 the skin is more valuable than of any other domesti- 

 cated breed, while the animals themselves are 

 capable of withstanding severe droughts and can 

 exist on the poorest of grasses. 



The Arusi Gallas of Eastern Abyssinia and the 

 neighbouring tribes have a different breed, very 

 similar to the long-tailed Arab domesticated sheep 

 so commonly seen in Aden and Southern Arabia. 



According to the same informant, rams of this 

 breed stand from 27^ to 28J inches at the withers, 

 and from 28J to 29 J inches at the croup, the cor- 

 responding dimensions in ewes being 24J and 26J 

 inches. In rams the weight may be as much as 

 from 99 to 118 lbs., while in ewes it is not more 

 than about 78 lbs. 



Several thousand head of these Somali fat- 

 rumped sheep are shipped weekly from the coast 

 towns of Berbera, Bulbar, and Zeyla for Aden, 

 where they constitute practically the sole meat- 

 supply of the garrison and other inhabitants. The 



