[Jacob-list] Lilac Striping/Brindling & Eye Halo Defined?

[ranchrat at telusplanet.net]

Heel low:

Thank you for all the discussion...I am sure I will need lots of time to digest 
all this before I get to spit any more out!  I do however have a new 
observation--post shearing.

BRINDLING
Due to spring finally making an appearance melting snow and warming up 
innards...I sheared Haley "short" coat.  I have observed something I am not 
sure others have mentioned yet.  Haley is lilac--lilac color version "pewter" 
like Neal's 12 year old ewe pictured on the link provided kindly by Linda 
(http://www.patchworkfibers.com/lilacs.html).

Haley is heavily body patched, she does not have much in the way of "white" 
areas on her body (but as someone mentioned in regards to the darker Jacob 
ewes, she threw almost perfect 60W/40B lilac factor ewes).  Her grey is pewter, 
but now that she is shaved, I note that there are small areas of darker 
coloration.  She has darker extemities; knees, hocks, pasterns/hooves, horns, 
eye & nose patching.  No, not really black, but a deeper darker grey.  The 
markings I am now able to see sans fiber are narrow bands of color, pointed at 
the ends and she has one darker than all the others on one haunch.  I would 
liken these markings to mini-zebra stripes for lack of a correct term.  They do 
not really zig zag, more like brindling maybe?  Oh heck, did I get the 
customized pinstripped Jacob model then?  

Haley's stripes are very cool and I am sure Haley is completely unaware of her 
new found "stare at her" even more calling cards...if burning holes into sheep 
with my eyes happened...she'd be "smokin'" by now!  ;-)

Has anyone else noted what I am seeing; brindling in lilacs?  How about in the 
black & whites?  I *think* I know what freckling is and this does not appear to 
be the same "shape" as freckling!

EYE HALO
Would someone post here what "eye halo" is exactly?  Fred refers to this as 
others have "the lilac body (and eye halo)" and I would be assuming only that 
this is a reference to the lighter/grey toned iris coloration we may see in 
some lilacs (halo meaning "ring around the eye" not a reference to angelic 
properties?).  Is this a correct assumption that this is iris color or is this 
something else?  I am sorry to be newbie here (chanting of "NOOBY--NOOBY" may 
now cease!)...I need education in correct Jacob terminology please!

Doggone, 

Tara 
Haley-"Make her STOP!  It's unnerving how she stares at me...makes me wonder if 
I have food stuck in my teeth or sumthun!" 
-- 
     ____(\                Tara Lee Higgins                  /)____ 
    (_____~>        Rat Ranch - An ACD is for LIFE          <~_____) 
   ( ``  ``          ranchrat at telusplanet.net                ``  `` ) 
    \                       Alberta Canada                         / 
     )  http://www.telusplanet.net/public/ranchrat/index.html     (