On Tunis Sheep. 223 
not all of these crosses (especially where white fleece is 
the object) shew the tail in perfection; and 1 think 
many are deficient in some of the best qualities of the 
sheep; and ¢hat in proportion to defect of tail, and white- 
ness of fleece. 
A neighbour, who has, I believe, been accustomed 
to, or acquainted with, the modes of managing sheep 
in Jreland, and has great merit in preserving the Tunis 
breed (obtained from my stock) in high perfection ; 
avers, that, by attentive selections, and proper manage- 
ment, he can have Tunis sheep, as white as any others. 
He succeeds better than I have done ;—and Jdelieves 
what he wishes.—But I perceive, in spots, a cast of 
tawney tinge, or a departure from blood, in those he 
deems perfectly white. A strong propensity to believe, 
wonderfully assists our faith.—-A. most worthy country- 
man of his, has often, with fervor and solemnity, as- 
sured me ;—and fe believed it—that the eggs of Ire- 
land were the w/ztest in the world! He despised them 
as an esculent, if the shell had not, what he called, the 
Trish mark;—that is,—in English,—pure white,—with- 
out any mark at all.—He held nothing in greater abo- 
mination than a dyed,—or what he called a pie-bald, 
easter ege. It was in vain that one attempted to per- 
suade him that the interior of all eggs was alike ; so far 
as depended on tints or colour of shell.—De gustibus 
non est disputandum.—So I have no controversy with 
those who do not fancy the wool,—or, if they so please, 
the mutton, of a coloured sheep. 
RIcHARD PETERSs. 
Belmont, May 3d, 1810. 
To the Philad. Soc. for promoting Agriculture. 
