i44 Introduction of the 



bestowed on the animal ; as, in the sheep, the wool of yearlinga 

 is found to be of the finest quality, and is always distinguished 

 in the market as a superior article. It is also remarked, that 

 the white fleeces are less fine than the coloured, and that the 

 black are the finest of all. They equally vary in quantity ; the 

 finest wool also producing the heaviest fleece. 



The varieties in respect to colour which arrived in Scotland 

 were white, white and brown intermixed, and black. In their 

 native country it is remarked, that those which inhabit the 

 most elevated valleys are of a bright ochre yellow ; that, lower 

 down, they are yellow and white intermixed ; and that, still 

 further from the highest tracts, they are pure white, or white 

 stained with black or brown. It is not mentioned whether the 

 black variety is limited to any particular district, but, from 

 the much superior price of its produce, it is probably rare. 



In Tartary, the fleeces are shorn with a knife, in a rude 

 manner, about the end of Spring, when the snows have 

 melted ; and it is probable that our own period of sheep- 

 shearing would be the proper time for that operation in this 

 country. It was formerly remarked, that the first flock at 

 Blair was shedding the fleeces in August. Those at Dunkeld 

 had entirely lost theirs at the end of July. In August, the 

 flock in Sutherland was also losing the fleeces. 



The last circumstance, which now remains to be mentioned 

 respecting the shawl goat, is the treatment of the fleeces. 



In Tartary, they first undergo two sortings : one according 

 to their colour, and another according to their quality. With 

 respect to the latter operation, two degrees of fineness only are 

 distinguished. It is probable, that from the rude mode of shear- 

 mg adopted, the whole fleece is confounded together; and, that 

 the separation of the different qualities is far less perfect than 

 it would be in this country, if the fleece was shorn entire, and 

 then separated, as is done in the sheep. After shearing, the 

 long hairs are all picked by hand from the wool, an operation 

 which is understood to be performed by children, but which 

 must be both tedious and expensive. It is probable, that ii 

 ever the animal should be naturalized in this country, some 



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