Remarks on Form of Merinos. 243 
wool far exceeds any I have seen (for others may be equal 
ply) and the dewlap, or pendulous skin under the neck and 
throat, are marks of blood and race. I cannot conjecture why 
these should have been overlooked or forgotten, when the 
broad-tail was called a sport of nature. I saw in Don Pedro, 
the first perfect merino sheep, I had ever attentively examin- 
ed, when stripped otf its fleece. If the merzno should be of 
African origin (as some suppose) nature, in that quarter, is 
singularly playful ; and addicted to strange pranks in the ani- 
mal kingdom : if it be really so, that broad-tails, bunches, pro- 
tuberant occipita and sheep’s dewlaps, are her sporting amuse- 
ments: and I sce not that she should be confined to any one, 
(if so they are) of these eccentric fantasies.—But the truthis, 
that in Africa there are more original indigenous varieties of 
animals and plants, than in any other quarter oi the globe. It 
was the scene of primitive creation; and not of nature’s sports. 
It is common, I perceive, to dock the tails of merino sheep. 
A question of Mr. Dupont’s—‘* Whether I thought that of 
the Tunis sheep could be safely cut off?” (which he asked 
with a view to its facilitating the crossing a ewe with his ram) 
reminded me of an omission in my remarks on this sheep. 
The configuration of the under part of the Tunis tail, assists 
in carrying off the excrement; so as not to foul the wool ; 
and to preserve a general cleanliness in the hmder parts.— 
This sheep rarely scours ; as do common sheep on succu- 
lent pastures ; owing to weak or diseased bowels. The ope- 
ration of excision, of the whole tail, would not be safe; 
nor do the reasons exist, as to this, which induce the dock- 
ing other sheep. We sometimes cut off the supplementary 
curl or tail, below the fleshy protuberance. This may be done 
with perfect safety, though it disfigures the tail, and is not 
essential to cleanliness. Crossing can be accomplished with no 
great difficulty, but it requires some management. It is fre- 
quently effected, without any auxiliary means, with a Tunis 
ewe.— R. P.. 
