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OF SHEEP IN GENERAL. 



NOTWITHSTANDING the numerous varieties of the 

 Common Sheep which have been observed in dif- 

 ferent countries of the world, there are, belonging 

 to the present tribe, not more than three or four 

 well ascertained species: These are the Common 

 Sheep, the Alkali, the Pudu, and, perhaps, the Cre- 

 tan Sheep*; tor there is some doubt whether the 

 last animal may be considered as really distinct or 

 not. With respect to the varieties of the Common 

 Sheep, many of them differ widely from each other. 

 Most of them are clad with wool ; but there is one, 

 the African Sheep, whose coat is entirely of hair. 

 The greater part have each two horns; but the 

 Iceland Sheep have more than two: and several of 

 the English Sheep, on the contrary, are entirely 

 destitute of these weapons. The African Sheep 

 have long, slender tails ; and some of the Sheep 

 of Syria and Barbary have their tails so long, and 

 at the same time so broad and large, that the in- 

 habitants occasionally construct little carriages to 



* Oms aries, ovis ammon, oms pudu f and ovis strepsiceros of 

 Linnaeus. 



Bb 4 put 



