364 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 



early importations attracted considerable attention among 

 sheep-men, which resulted in increased importations. 

 One of the most influential of these early importers was 

 Robert Livingston, who made his first importation in 

 1802. By his writings and by his political influence he 

 advanced the interest in Merinos very greatly. Another 

 prominent importer was William Jarvis, of Vermont, then 

 the United States consul at Lisbon. Mr. Jarvis sent to 

 this country a total of about four thousand head, which 

 were widely distributed through the East. All of these 

 sheep were of superior breeding, and included representa- 

 tives from the families of Paular, Escurial, Aguirre, Ne- 

 grette, and Montarcos. From this time for many years 

 Merinos were on the crest of popularity, and prices ruled 

 very high. Plumb states that "it is estimated that from 

 April 1, 1810, to August 31, 1811, there were brought to 

 the United States 19,651 Merino sheep." Most of the 

 sheep imported from Spain were of the great migratory 

 group. 



Merinos in America are now grouped in three great 

 families, designated as the American Merino, the Delaine 

 and the Rambouillet. 



448. Families. The principal families represented 

 in the American importations, and hence the progenitors 

 of our modern American Merinos, were as follows : 



Paular Merinos. The Paulars were owned by the 

 Carthusian friars of Paular. These friars had one of 

 the handsomest flocks in Spain, with soft, silky, close and 

 compact wool, carrying less surface yolk than some other 

 types. The Paular lambs were hairy at birth. The 

 Paular subtype of the American Merino is a well-estab- 

 lished strain. 



Aguirre Merinos. These were very well-covered 



