CHAPTER IV 

 THE BREEDS OF SHEEP 



The origin of the domestic sheep is generally believed to 

 be from several kinds of wild sheep found in different parts 

 of the world. One of these is found in the hilly or mountain- 

 ous parts of Asia, and is known as the Argali. It is much 

 larger than our domestic sheep, has big horns, and a coat of 

 black or dark-red hair, below which is a covering of white 

 wool. Another form, called the Musmon, is found in the 

 more mountainous parts of Greece and adjacent sections of 

 Europe. Rocky Mountain Sheep are another sort living 

 on the higher mountains of North America. Wild sheep 

 have always been found in the elevated parts of Africa and 

 eastern Asia. All of these sheep have certain features in 

 common. 



Just how long the sheep have been subject to the control 

 of man we do not know. Neither have we any information 

 as to the wild family from which the domestic form has come. 

 Scientific men have had different views on this subject. 

 Bones of sheep have been found among the remains of the 

 lake dwellers of Switzerland, a people who lived before the 

 dawn of history. The very earliest writings, including the 

 Bible, show man to have had large flocks of domestic sheep, 

 and to have valued highly both wool and meat. 



Three distinct classes or groups of sheep may be made, 

 depending largely upon the character of the fleece. These 

 are fine or short, medium, and long or coarse wools. These 

 classes are somewhat due to the sorting over of the fleeces 

 by the wool merchant, who finds that each class serves a 



