2IO THE SHEEP AND ITS COUSINS 



smooth hair, is coated only at its base with fat, 

 and is elsewhere free ; the exposed portion being 

 thick, but narrowing towards the tip. The whole 

 rump is covered with an enormous fatty mass, form- 

 ing a broad rounded cushion, divided by a median 

 cleft, which is hairy above but naked beneath, 

 where it rests on the base of the tail. Other 

 masses of fat extend from the inner side of the 

 thighs to the groin, while yet others are found on 

 the belly. The coat is entirely hairy, and the black 

 is restricted to the head and neck, as in the Somali 

 breed. 



In regard to the sheep of British East Africa, 

 I have received the following communication from 

 the Director of Agriculture at Nairobi : — 



" The sheep in the immediate vicinity of Nairobi 

 are those of the Kikuyu. They are a very mixed 

 breed, having been continually influenced by im- 

 portations of sheep from other tribes. The Kikuyu 

 bush-country is not a sheep-country in the sense 

 that the plain country is, and no special type seems 

 to have perpetuated itself there. In the Masai 

 country near Nairobi, and in other parts, the sheep 

 are a distinct type, being perhaps the best in the 

 Protectorate. They are large, hairy, fat -tailed 

 [? fat-rumped] sheep, and the predominating colour 

 is brown. The tail is short. 



"The Suk and Samburu sheep are another 

 distinct type. These sheep are small as compared 



