32 BULLETIX 94, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
marked improvement in the piney-woods sheep of the South wherever 
used. The largest number of purebred flocks are to be foimd in 
Indiana, 
In Arizona, at the agricultural experiment station, Tunis bucks 
proved superior to those of other mutton breeds, notably the Oxford, 
Shropshire, Dorset, and Hampshire, for crossing, upon the native 
ewes. They had excellent range qualities, were very prolific, and 
exhibited a tolerance to heat and a resistance toward the sheep bot 
fly unequaled by any of the other breeds. The rams were active, 
repelling the bot flies, and were more fertile than those of other 
breeds under the conditions mentioned. The cross resulted in larger 
and earlier lambs and a longer staple of wool, though not as fine as 
the native Merino ewe. The Tunis seems especially adapted to the 
climatic conditions of this region, which resulted in the mortality of 
a large number of the rams of other breeds, and bids fair to become 
quite popular in this State. 
The Tunis is a rather smaU, rangy, early-maturing breed, rams 
weighing about 150 pounds in breeding condition. Ewes should 
weigh 120 pounds or better. The type of this breed is not very well 
fixed. Both sexes are hornless; the head is covered with short hair, 
tawny, yellow-brown, or brown and white in color. The ears are 
large and broad and pendulous. 
In mutton qualities, the Tunis has a fair form, though mature 
sheep are somewhat patchy about the tail head, and the mutton is of 
good quality. The tail is characteristically broad and fat, it having 
been used for a storehouse where fat was stored in times of plenty 
to carry the animal over periods of famine. The fleece is of the 
medium wool type, compact and of fair quality, though it varies 
somewhat in color. A good fleece should weigh from 7 to 9 pounds. 
It usually grades quarter blood and three-eighths blood combing. 
The breed has been criticized for being somewhat light in the leg 
of mutton and patchy about the tail head when mature. 
The American Tunis Sheep Breeders' Association organized June 6, 
1896, at Fincastle, Ind. The headquarters of the breed are at Craw- 
fordsville, Ind. They have registered 2,530 head of sheep up to Jan- 
uary 1, 1914. The following is the scale of points adopted by this 
association: 
Points. 
Blood: Imported from Tunis, or a perfect line of ancestors extending back to the 
flock owned and bred by Judge Richard Peters, of Pennsylvania 20 
Constitution: Healthful countenance; lively look; head erect; deep chest; ribs 
"well arched; round body, with good length; strong, straight back; muscles fine 
and firm 15 
Fleece: Medium length; medium quality; medium quantity; color white, some- 
times tinctured with gray; evenness throughout 10 
Covering: Body and neck well covered with wool; legs bare or slightly covered; 
face free of wool and covered with fine hair 10 
