158 TRICHOLOGIA MAMMALIUM ; 



for he was "o keeper of Sheep;" but there were no doubt wild ones ever since, and even 

 are at the present day, if we believe travelers. 



OF THE TWO SPECIES OF SHEEP. It is very evident to us that there are two distinct 

 species of Sheep, viz: 



1st. The HAIRY Sheep, and 



2d. The WOOLLY Sheep. 



The hairy Sheep (when perfect) has no wool, and the woolly Sheep (when perfect) has 

 not a hair on it. We have already described hair and wool, and shown how the latter is 

 admirably calculated for the manufacture of felts and all cloths which are required to full, 

 and the former to the manufacture of flannel, worsted, blankets, hose, and all articles that 

 are required not to shrink. 



The fleece of the hairy Sheep has sometimes been called " long wool," and that of the 

 woolly Sheep "short wool;" but the truth is, that the former is not wool at all, arid these 

 "long" and "short" names should be discontinued, being calculated to mislead. 



In the manufacture of fabrics that are required not to shrink, the hair should be combed 

 and spun, but never scribbled nor carded. The object of this is to preserve the same 

 direction of filaments that they had on the back of the animal, when the scales are not 

 opposed to each other, and whence they have no tendency to entangle, even should they 

 become loose. 



But it will be objected that there are Sheep that have on them both hair and wool. We 

 admit it, and shall now proceed to show that the existence of such mongrels is no objection 

 whatever to our division into two pure species. But as the discussion of this point involves 

 nearly the whole art of sheep-breeding, it is time that we should reduce what we have to 

 say to order. 



RULE. THE SHEEP-BREEDER SHOULD NEVER CROSS THE TWO SPECIES OF SHEEP, viz: 

 THE HAIRY SHEEP AND THE WOOLLY SHEEP. This is the most important direction we 

 have to give it is the golden rule the primatus principatus a rule, the more necessary to 

 be dwelt upon, as its adverse has been countenanced by authority, and has been acted upon 

 by those whose example has been deemed worthy of being followed. Its discussion 

 divides into two questions, viz : 



1 st. Whether the hairy Sheep and the woolly Sheep really belong to two distinct species ? 

 and 



2J. Whether, by the amalgamation of two distinct species of animals, a permanent, self- 

 supporting race, possessing equally the properties of both parents, can be produced? 



The learned have not always agreed upon a definition of the term "species." On the 

 contrary, it has been used in different senses, according to the mode or subject, whether 

 literary, popularly, logically, or zoologically and physiologically. In its zoological and 

 physiological meaning, it is (according to the Rev. Thomas Smith) " a fixed principle, 

 founded upon the indefinite varieties of which animal life is capable." In regard to proof ", 

 he considers common parentage as the best evidence which the nature of the case admits; 

 but as this cannot always be traced, he does not exclude other proof. 



