Nature 211, 1092 - 1093 (03 September 1966); doi:10.1038/2111092b0

Coat Structure in Soay Sheep

M. L. RYDER

Agricultural Research Council, Animal Breeding Research Organization, Edinburgh, 9.

EARLIER work on the coat of the Soay^1,2 was carried out with "mainland" Soays which stem from stock removed from St. Kilda some 50 years ago. Apparently, all these animals have a woolly, chocolate coloured coat. The designation of St. Kilda as a National Nature Reserve has enabled an investigation to be made of the sheep remaining on the islands by a team organized by the Nature Conservancy³. Many of the sheep have a hairy coat, and only 75 per cent are dark brown in colour; the remainder are light brown. The coat structure of these primitive domestic sheep throws light on fleece evolution. This study reveals a lack of heterotype hairs, and a higher secondary/primary follicle ratio (S/P ratio) in the hairy than in the woolly type.

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