FAT-RUMPED SHEEP 209 



respects the colouring is much the same as in the 

 Hedjaz breed. 



These sheep are kept in great numbers by the 

 natives of Nubia, Sennar, and Kordofan, to whom 

 they furnish both mutton and milk. 



A more or less nearly allied fat-rumped breed 

 inhabits Madagascar, of which, however, little 

 appears to be known in Europe. 



The Persian fat-rumped sheep is, on the other 

 hand, a well-known breed, which has been carried 

 to Cape Colony and Rhodesia, where it is now bred 

 to a considerable extent, although crossed with the 

 Africander fat-tail. Dr. Fitzinger believed it to be 

 the result of a cross between the Somali fat-rumped 

 breed and the Angola long-tailed sheep, but there 

 is nothing in favour of such an origin and every- 

 thing against it. It is the largest representative 

 of the whole group, and is characterised by its 

 heavy build and a great tendency to the develop- 

 ment of fat. The hollow between the chaffron and 

 the forehead is but slight, the upper jaw is distinctly 

 shorter than the lower, the ears are partially pen- 

 dent, and both sexes are devoid of horns. The 

 neck is short and thick, with the heavy dewlap 

 extending on to the chest ; the croup is markedly 

 higher than the withers ; and the strong and 

 muscular limbs are relatively long. The not very 

 short tail, which reaches about to the middle of the 

 thighs, and is covered above with rings of short 



