526 SHEEP 



The color of the hair on the face, ears, and legs is white, and 

 the hoofs also are white. Tan-colored spots sometimes occur amid 

 the white hairs of the ears or nose and lips. Dark streaks may 

 occur in the hoofs. Any variation from white is looked upon with 

 disfavor, but does not disqualify. Tan spots are without doubt an 

 inheritance of long standing among all Merino families. 



The size of the Rambouillet averages larger than any of the 

 other Merinos ; in fact, years ago they were nicknamed "Elephant 

 Merinos." The rams will average about 185 pounds at maturity 



Fig. 235. Four select Rambouillet ewes in the flock of Victor Gilbert, Wideville, 

 France, in 1900. From photograph by the author 



and the ewes 150 to 160 pounds. Some rams are said to have 

 weighed over 300 pounds, and cases are known of ewes weigh- 

 ing about 250 pounds. The ram Matchless, imported by George 

 Campbell in 185 1 from the Gilbert flock, weighed 261 pounds. 

 Mr. Max Chapman of Ohio bred the ram Sampson, which 

 weighed 280 pounds at twenty months old, and the ewe Bernice, 

 which at three years weighed 244 pounds. Western breeders pro- 

 duce a larger, heavier-weighing type than Easterners, and weights 

 of 250 for the mature ram and 200 for the ewe are not regarded 

 as remarkable. The ram Big Chief, bred by F. S. King Brothers 

 Company of Wyoming, is said to have weighed 375 pounds. 



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