222 On Tunis Sheep. 
portion is white. But I have not found, that whiteness 
is the criterion of quality or fineness ; and I have often 
found the tawney, the finest wool. Every part, of every 
colour, but black, will take dyes, equal to any wool of 
any species. /Vhiteness is therefore of little substantial 
importance, or benefit. If the Merino wool had no 
other excellencies, real or fanciful, its whiteness or 
cleanliness would not recommend it ; as it 1s not, so far 
as | have seen, remarkable for either. We must. take 
things as God made them ; if we would have them ac- 
cording to their kind. Art as often fails, as succeeds, 
in attempts to ameliorate. The /ambs of the Tunis breed 
are white, red, tawney, bluish, and black ;—but the few- 
est of the latter. All (except the black) grow white in 
the general colour of the fleece, though most com- 
monly coloured in spots; and either tawney or black 
generally marks the cheeks and shanks ; and sometimes 
the whole head and face. A perfectly white Tunisian, is as 
much deteriorated by this singularity of departure from 
stock, as is an Albino negro, who is an Anomaly in the 
African race of men. I have seen some nearly white 
sheep, of this breed, and tolerably high blooded, after 
three or four crosses with this object ; but I never liked 
them the better for this circumstance ; which | always 
considered a departure from blood and race. The 
whiteness of fleece was obtained from the sires, or dams, 
of the crosses. The sire commonly gives the character 
to the progeny. I would not, however, be understood 
to say, that mixtures, or crosses, with well selected 
sheep of other kinds, are prejudicial. On the contrary, 
I have had, and have seen with others, fine sheep 
of half, three quarters and seven eighths blood. But 
