LEICESTER.--Hornless, large size, rectangular form of body on clean
legs, bare faces or carrying a very scant topknot. Head long, tapering
toward muzzle, face wedge-shaped, covered with fine white hairs, eyes
large and prominent, neck strong and moderately short. Breast deep,
broad and full. Back broad and well fleshed. Legs of moderate length.
Fleece fine, uniform, curly, with bright luster.
LINCOLN.--Large size with heavy fleece of long wavy or curly wool and
moderate tuft of wool on face. Color white, head large, without horns,
body deep, back wide and straight. Legs broad and set well apart. Weight
for rams 250 pounds, ewes 200 pounds.
MERINO.--Distinguished by its very fine wool, usually delicately
crimped. Wool generally short and dense. Grows to tips of ears and hoofs
of feet. Form, when shorn, angular, shoulders narrow, back not usually
so straight or strong as English breeds, legs less straight and neck
more slender. Ram usually has horns. Very enduring and resistant. The
American merino has three to five heavy folds on neck, and folds on arm
and sides and across hips. Fleece covers entire sheep except tip of nose
and hoofs. Eyes hidden by wool. Outside of fleece a dirty brown, but
inside white. Ewes 80 to 100 pounds, rams 100 to 175 pounds. Delaine
merinos have smoother bodies than the American, and fewer folds and
wrinkles. Mature ewes 100 to 150 pounds, rams 140 to 200 pounds.
Rambouillet merinos have large bodies, usually smooth and free from
wrinkles, except perhaps on neck. Fleece fine and white. Rams usually
have large spirally curved horns, ewes hornless. Legs long. Rams 175 to
185 pounds, ewes 140 to 160 pounds.