Fibres from the Coat of a Blackface Lamb

Abstract

IN the course of the study of the lamb's coat of various breeds of sheep, a range of fibre forms has been recognised by Duerden and Dry. In this method of classification, the apparent thickness of the fibres is of great significance; but analogous to results obtained from work on crimp, it is now suggested that it may not be entirely ascribed to increase of cross-sectional area, but may be due to a twist of the fibre. Thus a thick or thin filament would appear according as the major or minor axis of the cross-sectional ellipse was seen. Prof. Duerden kindly supplied typical prototrichs from the fleece of a Blackface lamb aged 1 month.