293 



SECTION X. 

 The several Sorts of Sheep. 



To my great astonishment, I found sheep 

 of various kinds. There are black- faced 

 sheep, which seem to thrive better, and 

 apparently endure greater hardships, than 

 other sorts. Some of them appear to be 

 from Holland. The sheep from that coun- 

 try are distinguishable by their having no 

 wool at the end of their tails, and bear the 

 name of rat- tailed sheep, or small-tailed 

 sheep. 



The American wool, in general, is soft 

 and fine : the housing of their sheep in 

 winter is probably one cause, and the cli- 

 mate and soil may be another, The length 

 of the wool is from four to six inches ; the 

 weight from three to four pounds each 

 fleece. There is no regular wool-market. 

 The price is from two shillings to three 



