BREEDS OF SHEEP AND GOATS 335 



1801, and in 1802 Colonel Humphreys, of Connecticut, 

 brought to America nearly 100 head. These Humphrey 

 sheep proved very valuable, and from them some of the best 

 flocks in America started. Much interest followed these two 

 importations. Soon other people began to import Merinos 

 into the United States, and very high prices were paid for 

 them. During 18 months ending in 1811, nearly 20,000 of 

 these sheep were brought to this country. The people went 

 wild over Merinos, as high as $1,500 being paid for individual 

 animals. As our country developed, the Merino became 

 widely distributed and but few of any other kind were kept 

 for many years. During this time our people cared but little 

 for mutton, but high prices were paid for wool, for which 

 the Merino was especially valued. These sheep grew greatly 

 in popularity in all wool-producing countries, so that even 

 to-day there are more sheep of this breed than any other, 

 for immense flocks of pure-breds and grades are found in 

 Australia, South America, and over much of the United 

 States. The production of wool, however, is less profitable 

 than formerly, so that shepherds are gradually changing to 

 the mutton breeds or are giving up their flocks altogether. 

 Several different Merino families have been developed 

 in America. They all had their origin in the sheep of Span- 

 ish breeding, but in the hands of certain men each gradually 

 developed special features. In this way families of Merinos 

 were established. For a great many years all sheep that 

 had heavy folds over the body were known as Spanish 

 Merinos. Later the people came to refer to sheep of this 

 class that had been produced in America, as American or 

 A-type Merinos. In time, a larger sheep, with few folds or 

 none, developed, that produced a longer and somewhat 

 coarser grade of wool especially suited for certain cloth manu- 

 facture. These became known as Delaine, or C-type Mer- 

 inos. These sheep also produced a good grade of mutton. 

 What are known as B-type Merinos show a moderate amount 



