SHEEP. 269 



A change of locality, like that from their native habitat to the rich clover fields of West 

 ern New York or Ohio, for instance, produces a corresponding change, though gradual, in the 

 breed, and forms a new type, characterized by a heavier body and fleece. The American 

 Merino is a good illustration of this change. The ancient Greeks, having no cotton or silk, 

 and but little linen, sheep s wool was of necessity the principal material from which their 

 clothes were made; they accordingly took special pains and care to cultivate such breeds 

 as produced the finest wool. Such breeds were those of the Greek city of Tarentum situated 

 on the Tarentine Gulf. In order to render the texture of the wool still more fine, they covered 

 their sheep with clothes during the winter, as they found by experience that exposure to the 

 cold made the wool coarser. This practice of clothing the sheep during cold weather for 

 several generations resulted in producing a very delicate breed with exceedingly fine wool. 

 This product of Greek industry was transmitted by them to the Romans, and were crossed 

 by them with rams imported from Africa, producing a stronger breed which combined the 

 whiteness of fleece of the sire with the fineness of fleece of the dam, and thus the race was 

 perpetuated. The scarcity of other fine textured sheep made these Spanish sheep so valuable, 

 that it is stated from authentic sources, that in the beginning of our era they were sold for 

 $1000 in gold per head, which was an enormous price for that period, when money possessed 

 much more value than at present. The same authority says : 



&quot;When the barbarians invaded Italy, these sheep were all exterminated, while the 

 greater portion of the Roman possessions were laid waste. But in the less accessible moun 

 tain regions of Spain, the Moors preserved the breed ; and it is to them that modern Spain 

 owes the Merino sheep, which are the direct descendants of this cross breed of the Greek and 

 African ancestors. It is a valuable inheritance, too, which that country owes to the combined 

 Greek, Roman, and Moorish civilizations, and of which our California wool growers also reap 

 the advantages, by the prosperity of this breed of sheep, which was there a few years ago.&quot; 



The prominent characteristics of the Merino are the abundance and fineness of its wool, its 

 crimped or spiral form, and the large quantity of yolk it contains, giving it greater softness 

 than that of other longer- wooled breeds. The yolk is a peculiar substance secreted from the 

 skin of all sheep, and which is contained in the wool to a greater or less extent. It is of the 

 natrue of potash soap, and may be washed out by water alone with which it forms a kind of 

 lather. On the outside of the fleece the dust adhering and mixing with the yolk forms, when 

 combined with the compactness of the wool, a kind of crust which offers considerable resist 

 ance in repelling snow, wind, and rain. On opening this outer crust, the wool of the Merino 

 is found of a golden tint and soft and glistening with yolk. The abundant supply of yolk in 

 the Merino enables it to endure exposure better than most other breeds. Though natives of 

 a warm climate, they soon become acclimated to an extreme cold temperature, and are success 

 fully reared as far North as Sweden ; their wool in such climates however loses somewhat of 

 the fine texture that characterizes it in warmer regions. The Merino is also of vigorous con 

 stitution and very long lived, sometimes producing healthy lambs at the age of twelve years and 

 even older ; though not so prolific as some breeds, they breed, however, regularly, until seven 

 or eight years old. They are healthy and hardy and will thrive where some breeds would 

 utterly fail ; will live on light pastures, endure heat remarkably, and herd profitably, usually 

 doing well in either large or small flocks, and are remarkably adapted to very warm or cold 

 climates. Notwithstanding the health and longevity of the breed, the lambs when first 

 dropped appear more delicate and feeble than those of any other breed, but after a few days 

 they seem equally strong as others, and the percentage of loss from disease after this period 

 is usually less in a Merino flock than those of others. They are, however, slow in maturing, 

 and do not generally cease growing until three years old, which renders them less desirable 

 than some others as mutton sheep. They are considered by breeders very valuable to cross 

 with the common, native stock, as they readily transmit their good qualities, and even greatly 

 improve a flock of native sheep. The general average of lambs is about eighty per cent, of 



