FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 5 



This pedigree is probably entitled to about as much 

 confidence as that which the Greek poets gave to the 

 wonderful ram which bore the " Golden Fleece." He, 

 according to this very respectable authority, w r as got 

 by the sea-god Neptune, dam the nymph Theophane. 



The only well settled facts on this subject and 

 fortunately they are quite sufficient for all practical 

 purposes are, that at a period anterior to the Chris- 

 tian era, fine-wooled sheep abounded in Spain ; that 

 they were preserved and made themselves heard of in 

 the channels of trade and the domestic arts through 

 all the conquests, reconquests, and other sanguinary 

 convulsions of that kingdom ; that they were, or 

 gradually ripened into, an exclusive breed unique in 

 its characteristics, and essentially unlike all other 

 breeds in the world. 



When the Merinos of Spain first attracted the ob- 

 servation of other nations, they were found scattered 

 over most portions of their native country, divided 

 into provincial varieties which exhibited considerable 

 differences ; and these again were separated into great 

 permanent flocks or cabanas, as the Spaniards termed 

 them, which had so long been ke^xt distinct from each 

 other and subjected to special lines of breeding, that 

 they had acquired the character of sub-varieties or 

 families. 



cloths worn by the Eomans in his time were manufactured from 

 wool brought from Truditania, in Spain. Pliny, himself G-overnor of 

 Spain, writing just after Columella's time, describes several fine- 

 wooled varieties in that country, which must have existed there a 

 long time anterior to Columella. The Barbary crosses undoubtedly 

 were made with, or formed, the Chunah or long-wooled breed of Spain, 

 which is altogether distinct from the Merino. 



