NEGRETTE MERINO SHEEP. 365 



is not so much considered as their valuable fine-wool-producing 

 qualities. Possibly, also, mismanagement may have had some- 

 thing to do with this failure, as English flockmasters did not 

 understand the character of these sheep, and by grazing them on 

 wet and rich pastures caused a delicacy and tendency to disease ; 

 but they have proved themselves hardy whenever properly 

 treated, and have much improved the fleece of all sheep with 

 which they have been crossed, by giving it increased weight, and 

 adapting it for finer fabrics. 



In our colonies the merino cannot easily be over-estimated ; 

 they are kept there in flocks of many thousands, and con- 

 sequently receive but limited attention. By nature they are un- 

 doubtedly intended to live a migratory life ; they produce more 

 horn on the wall of the hoof than any other breed of sheep, 

 and are able to travel much longer distances in search of 

 food without being footsore. Their short strong legs and 

 deep ribs do them good service ; they can live in a dry season 

 on a scanty pasture, and thus are enabled to produce good 

 fleeces where other animals would starve. In short, the great 

 value of the merino consists in their being able to produce 

 the finest fleeces of wool of good weight on the scantiest 

 pasture. The merino, with his very thick fine wool, and covered 

 as he is from the tip of his nose to the hoofs, suffers more from 

 wet than heat. The heads of the males are usually ornamented 

 with a pair of handsome spiral horns ; the females are mostly 

 polled. 



The remnant of the pure royal flock fell into the hands of the 

 late T. B. Sturgeon, of South Ockendon Hall, Essex, shortly 

 after the death of King George III., and they have since been 

 bred pure by Mr. Sturgeon and his sons, who have spared neither 

 trouble nor expense to maintain their high character. The effect 

 of food, climate, and fresh blood imported from the best flocks 

 to be found, is seen in the increased size of the sheep, their im- 

 proved form, and fine heavy even fleeces. Messrs. Sturgeon and 

 Sons, of Grrays Hall, Grays, Essex, are glad to show these sheep 

 to anyone interested in them ; they are within five minutes' walk 

 of the Grays Station on the London and Tilbury line. 



The management is not very different from that ordinarily 

 pursued. The ewes are put to the ram when 20 months old, in 



