NATURAL HISTORY 



G29 



enables them to retain llieir fleeces. 

 A diseased Tunis sheep is rare, 

 even in a mixed flock, in which 

 other sheep have been subject to 

 every disease known in that ani- 

 mal. I have had them disordered 

 in the feet with the fouls, but not 

 the foot-rot. If the hoofs of 

 sheep are examined, there will be 

 found a small opening near and 

 above the fore part of the cleft. 

 It is the mouth of a duct, running 

 tip the shank, and calculated for 

 the emission of a mucilaginous oil, 

 which lubricates, supports and 

 assists in the growth and renewal 

 of the corneous parts of the hoof. 

 Perhaps it is also a drain for hu- 

 mours which when confined, 

 become morbid and peccant. If 

 this closes, the disease appears. 

 Examine well and rub briskly 

 the parts together ; assist the 

 opening of the duct, and the dis- 

 charge of the morbid and stag- 

 nated matter in every way. Poke- 

 juice I have found efficacious, 

 Few are acquainted with this part 

 of the animal structure, though I 

 believe all cloven-footed animals 

 are thus formed. Swine have the 

 duct in the hinder part of the leg; 

 cattle in the cleft, which, when 

 diseased, is lacerated often by a 

 hair rope drawn between the 

 clefts, when gentler means would 

 effect the purpose, 



6. A Tunis tup couples with a 

 ewe of other breeds with more 

 certainty and effect, than a tup of 

 the common species with a Tunis 

 ewe. The broad tail is the impe- 

 diment. This must be managed 

 by an adroit pander. I have 

 known frequent failures in pro- 

 jected crosses, owing to inatten- 

 tion in this particular ; but the 

 Tunis tup finds no difficulty with 



a ewe of his own race. However 

 whimsical it may appear, the co- 

 lour of the tongue of any breed 

 is said to be important in the se- 

 lection of a tup. The third 

 Georgic of Virgil records the fact, 

 which I have seen verified in se- 

 veral instances. I give Dryden's 

 translation of the passiige : — 



" Even though a snowy rain thou shal 



behold. 

 Prefer him not in baste for husband to 



thy fold, 

 But search his mouth j aad if a swarthy 



tongue 

 Is underneath his humid palate hung. 

 Reject him, lest he darken all thy flock ; 

 And substitute another from thy stock." 



If this should seem to some im- 

 probable, it will be no difficult 

 task for the incredulous to avoid 

 the black tongue, lest, per chance, 

 the denunciation of Virgil may. 

 turn out well founded. 



7. The tail is the true test of 

 purity of blood ; and horns are a 

 bad symptom, especially if large. 

 The tufts on the thighs, and crest, 

 or forelock are also marks of 

 blood. 



Those who find this race pre- 

 ferable, under all its circum- 

 stances, must balance advantages 

 and comparative defects. It is, 

 like the Merino, a peculiar genus 

 and race of sheep. Those who 

 value them must reconcile them- 

 selves to coloured wool: though 

 the greatest proportion is white. 

 But 1 have not found, that \yhite- 

 ness is the criterion of quality or 

 fineness, and I have often found 

 the tawny the finest wool. Every 

 part, of every colour but black, 

 will take dyes equal to any wool 

 of any species; whiteness is there- 

 fore of little substantial import- 

 ance or benefit. If the Mciino 



