t 159 1 



to an uncommon degree, muft be in time confider- 

 ably deteriorated. 



The different breeds of fheep are diverfified al- 

 moft without endj and they are fo much inter- 

 mixed in every country in Europe, that if the befl: 

 breeds are not carefully attended to by their owners, 

 and kept in flocks of one common kind covering 

 a large extent of country, they will be conftantly 

 intermixing with others, and thus be greatly de- 

 bafed. The influence of climate can extend no 

 farther in correding this diforder than has been 

 already fpecified. In the fame climate may be 

 found two breeds of fheep, one of which carries 

 wool like coarfe hair, and the other fine wool, foft 

 as filk. This lafl: breed, if perfectly fecluded from 

 the other, may be preferved without degenerating 

 for ages; but unlefs this feclufion, at the proper 

 feafon, be perfcdl, it will be every year more and 

 more debafed. It is, however, a fad well known 

 to every fheep rearer, that fheep at the rutting fea- 

 fon acquire a fort oi furor of fex, if that exprefllon 

 will be admitted, which renders them at that time 

 reftlefs and adtive beyond meafure, fo that no. fence, 

 that can be made at a moderate expence for the 

 purpofes of hufbandry, can then keep them con- 

 fined : hence it becomes a matter of very great dif- 

 ficulty to prefcrve a diftindt breed without adultera- 

 tion. 



