Patrick Lederman, age 11, of Casper, wyo., for his question:

WHAT IS A KARAKUL?

A karakul is a type of sheep from which we get fine fleeces called Persian lamb. Most of the animals are raised in central and southwestern Asia, India, southwestern Africa and southeastern Europe.

A karakul has a thick, fat tail. The animal can store enough fat in its tail and back legs to live on when food is scarce.

The coarse fleece of the adult is white, yellowish, gray, brown or black. Young karakul lambs have a silky fleece that is usually black, although sometimes it is brown, gray or tan. This fleece has a high luster and is often curled until the fifth day after the lambs birth.