Ill 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



Ovis. (Lat. a Sheep.) 



Aries (Lat. a Ram). 



There are many kinds of SHEEP, among which the common 

 sheep, the long-tailed sheep, and the Wallachian sheep are 

 the most conspicuous. Next to the cow, the sheep is our 

 most useful animal. England produces better wool than any 

 country, for although the wool of the Spanish sheep is finer 

 than ours, it is much less in quantity. The Merino, as this 

 sheep is called, is annually conducted from one part of the 

 country to another, and back again. The distance traversed 

 is upwards of four hundred miles, and the time necessary to 

 complete the journey about six or seven weeks. The pro- 

 prietors of the flocks think that these periodical journeys 

 improve the wool ; but it is in all probability a mistaken 

 notion, as the stationary flocks of Leon and Estramadura pro- 

 duce quite as fine a fleece. Of course such a body of sheep 

 nearly six millions do great damage to the lands over which 

 they pass, and many fall victims to fatigue or are destroyed by 

 wolves. 



The long-tailed sheep inhabit Syria and Egypt. Its tail is 

 so large and. so loaded with fat, that to prevent it from being 



