PART II 



BREEDS OF SHEEP 



LECTURE NO. i. 



SHEEP THEIR INTRODUCTION INTO AMERICA. 



I. The sheep (Ovis) is a genus, or, according 

 to some authors, forms a group of genera of mam- 

 mals belonging to the family Bovida, and are Rum- 

 inants, of the Artioclactyle or pair-toed section of 

 the Ungulata or hoofed mammals. 



(1) As many as 21 different wild species have been 

 enumerated. 



(2) They are indigenous only to Asia, Europe, Africa 

 and the western mountain ranges of America. 



II. They have been grouped under two sub- 

 genera, viz. the Ovis and the Musimon. 



(1) Of the former, twelve species have been named, of 

 which ten are in Asia and two in North America. 



(2) Of the latter, seven species have been mentioned, of 

 which one inhabits the mountains in certain islands of the 

 Mediterranean. 



(3) In Asia these are generally spoken of as the Argali, 

 or wild sheep, in North America as the Rocky Mountain 

 sheep or Bighorn, and in Europe as the Musimon. 



III. Wild sheep are essentially inhabitants of 

 mountainous districts. 



(1) They never from choice frequent level deserts, open 

 plains, or dense forests or swamps, and 



(2) These natural instincts should be recognized in their 

 domestication. 



IV. It is uncertain whether the various species 

 of sheep now under domestication were derived from 



