FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 323 



a coat of hair; and such is the case with Sheep which have 

 been long accustomed to such climates. 



It would seem 10 be the economy of Nature, that some 

 graminivorous animals, when domesticated, but still expos- 

 ed to the rigors of the seasons, become more inert, of 

 course possess less animal heat, and therefore require a 

 more woolly coai : Winle others of the carnivorous kind, 

 which are more sheltered by Man, but whose habiis still 

 require their wonted activity, and of course retain their ani- 

 mal heat, require less clothing, or a mere coat of coarse 

 hair. This, perhaps, may be the reason why Sheep have 

 more wool and 1 ss activity than the Argyll ; and why Dogs 

 have coarser hair than Wolves. 



If this, however, be tuought sufficient to account for the 

 difference between the Argali and such Sheep as shed their 

 coats yearly, it is still difficult to assign a reason why the 

 Merino Sheep never shed* its coat; tor this, it left on far 

 years, does uot tll off, but constantly increases in length 

 and quantity. Probably different climates and soils have 

 done much, in producing marked differences among Shetp; 

 and probably different kinds, as we uow find them, have de- 

 scended from stock which were ot the same genus, but pos- 

 sessing properues different from each other. 



Mr. Livingston observes, tnat 4 as this quadruped has 

 probably been found throughout all the mountainous parts 

 of Europe and Asia, and perhaps even in Alrica ; as its 

 young are easily tamed; as its milk) its flesh, and its skin 

 are extremely valuable to Man, in a savage state ; it is 

 highly probable that it was amongst the first quadrupeds 

 that were domesticated ; and from this circumstance it has, 

 perhaps, wrought no less a change in Man, ihan Man has in 

 it;' that it * is highly probable we are indebted to it for the 

 conversion ot Man, from the wild wandering Savage, to the 

 mild and gentle Shepherd.' 



It may be found equally true, that different soils are best 

 suited to different breeds oi Stuep; and that the soil often 

 serves eventually to produce a difference in Sheep. < Fat 

 pastures (says Mortimer) breed straight, tall Sheep; and 

 the barren hills, short, ^quare ones.' 



The island, called Smithsislandj lying off the eastern cape 

 of Virginia, has been tound remarkable for producing a 

 breed of Sheep of uncommonly fine wool. 



The large longwooled Sheep ot Greatbritain require rich 

 pastures; and a moist soil will suit them better, perhaps, 

 than it will any other Sheep. A wet soil, sail marshes ex- 

 cepted, is, however, untriendly to Sheep of all kinds. The 

 Merino Sheep require good pastures, and such as is pro- 

 duced on dry soils. Farmers, in stocking their farms with 

 Sheep, ought to pay attention to the selection of such as are 



