154 accovnt of the Jhort tailed Jljeep. -^"g- 7- 



of that exuberance which Buffon and others attri- 

 bute to the fheep of that island. 



It resembles the Tbcherkefsian flieep described in 

 last article, in the form of its head, straight upright 

 ears^ and in thicknefs of Jleece ; but the quality of 

 the two fleeces are widely different ; as this variety 

 has voool almost as coarse as dog's hair : but^the great 

 distinguifhing character between them is the tail, 

 which is almost a quarter yard fhortcr than that 

 of the Tscherkefsian. 



The hrachiura or ftiort tailed flieep, is reared not 

 only by the northern Rufsians, but likewise by the 

 Fins and other neighbouring nations. Some of this 

 variety have been transported by the Rufsians into 

 Siberia, where they have supported themselves on 

 some pastures, though in poor condition ; but 

 through all the southern countries, they are in lefs 

 estimation than the long tailed, and fat tailed, 

 varieties, which are much superior to them for size, 

 fat, and good eating. The ewe of this fliort tailed 

 variety, couples readily with the ram of the steatO" 

 pyga or fat tailed breed, and produces an animal 

 nobler and larger than its mother, with a /«// swelled 

 at the base with fat, but meagre towards the end, 

 like that of the mixed breed, which makes Dr 

 Pallas's fourth and last variety of domestic flieep. 



The ewe of the hrachiura (always the subject of 

 this article,) couples likewise clandestinely with the 

 domestic he goat, and produces an animal much 



