M. Roulin on Domestic Animals. 335 



but in keeping the whole herd in check. Now, among these 

 dogs, some are found, which, the very first time they are taken 

 to die woods, are already acquainted with the mode of at- 

 tack. A dog of another breed starts at once, is sun'ounded, 

 and, whatever may be his strength, is devoured in a moment. 



The cat has undergone no perceptible change in America, 

 excepting that it has ceased to have any more particular season 

 of love in the year than another. This fact, which may easily 

 be conceived in a climate where the temperature undergoes no 

 great change, is equally observed with respect to all the other 

 animals of which I have made mention ; but the case is dif- 

 ferent as to those of which I have yet to speak, the goat and 

 sheep ; for, although kids and lambs make their appearance at 

 all seasons of the year, there are two periods at which the num- 

 ber of births is greatly increased, viz. about Christmas and 

 Whitsunday. 



The sheep which was carried from Spain is not of the Me- 

 rino breed, but of the kind called de lana burda y Castra. It 

 is very common on the Cordillera, from the height of 1000 m. 

 to that of 2.500 m. It nowhere seems to seek to escape from the 

 protection of man, nor has any change taken place in its man- 

 ners, the only difference exhibited by it being a slight diminu- 

 tion of size. 



Within the limits which I have pointed out, the sheep pro- 

 pagates easily, and without requiring almost any care; but the 

 case is different in tiie warm countries. It appears that, in the 

 plains of Meta, it is very difficult to rear sheep, as, although 

 their skins are very much in request there for making a kind 

 of chabraque, and although one of them sells as high as an ox's 

 hide, no sheep are to be seen from the river to the foot of the 

 Cordillera. In the valley which separates the eastern from the 

 middle chain, there are some indeed to be seen in a few places, 

 l)ut always in small numbers, tlie females being unprolific, and 

 the lambs difficult to bring up. 



Their existence in these jilaces is worthy of attention, inas- 

 much as it gives rise to an extremely curious phenomenon. 

 The wool on these lambs grows much in the same manner as 

 on those of lem[)erate climates. If, after attaining a certain 

 thickness, it is cut, it innnediately begins to sprout again, and 



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