SHEEP, DIFFERENT BREED3. 
309 
The Fleece. 
The fleece is the important point in Merinos ; they are not mutton 
sheep, and their carcass is of secondary importance. Dr. Randall, nearly 
twenty years ago, in his work entitled “The Practical Shepherd,” id 
writing of American Merinos, as they then were, says: “The greatest 
attainable combination of length and thickness of wool, of given quality, ia 
the first to be regarded in a market where all lengths are in equal demand. 
And the more evenly this length and thickness extend over every covered 
part, unless below the knees and hocks, the higher the excellence of tha 
animals.” 
It is in this point especially that the modern breeder has improved on 
his predecessors ; and it is this, in a very considerable degree, which gives 
the improved American Merino its vast superiority in weight of fleece, 
over all other fine sheep, of the same size, in the world. 
Wool of full length below the knees and hocks would hardly bo 
desirable, on account of its liability to become filthy ; but a thick short- 
ish coat, particularly on the hind legs — making them appear as large “as 
a man’s arm” — is regarded by many as a line, showy point, though it 
docs not add much to the value of the fleece. 
Tha Head. 
The wool should extend in an unbroken and undivided mass from th» 
back of the neck over the top of the head and down the face for an inch 
or two below the eyes, and there abruptly terminate iu a square or 
rounded shape ; it should cover the lower side of the jaws nearly to the 
mouth, and rise on the cheeks so as to leave only the front face bare, 
terminating abruptly like the forehead wool. The cheek and forehead 
wool should meet unbroken, immediately over the eve, between it and the 
ear. But it must by no means unite under the eye — though its outside 
ends may touch there for a little way. The eye should have just naked 
space enough about it to leavo the sight unimpeded, without any resort 
to the scissors. 
The nose should bo covered with short, soft, thick, perfectly white 
hair. Pale, tan-colored spots or “freckles” about the mouth, and the 
Bame color on tho outer half of the ear are not 'bjected to by the breed* 
ers of the Paulars — but Infantando breeders usually prefer pure white, 
Wool on tho lower part of tho face, as is often seen on the French 
Merinos, whether short or long, is regarded as decidedly objectionable, 
and any wool which obstructs tho sight in any degree, is a fault. 
Those who grow such fleeces now need not be ashamed to exhibit 
to-day in the best show rings of tho country. 
