OR OVIS HISPANICA. 147 



not aware of this species having been domesticated 

 in America, or imported alive to Europe, and we 

 believe that no domestic breeds are at this time 

 traced to it. 



We now come to review some of the more re- 

 markable of the domestic races, but if all the varie- 

 ties were to be described, much more than the pro- 

 per proportion of our space would be occupied, and 

 on that account one or two only of these from each 

 continent will be noticed. It may be premised, that 

 writers have generally placed all the varieties under 

 the denomination of Ovis aries, though it is generally 

 acknowledged that it is from some one of those we 

 have been now describing that they are derived. 

 Among the European races with which we shall 

 commence, by far the most important, as far as re- 

 gards the texture of the wool, is the Merino, though, 

 if we shall look to a combination of advantages, some 

 of the British breeds will surpass it in value ; while 

 by crossing, the hardier nature has been transferred, 

 and the produce of a wool of equal quality, but near- 

 ly double in quantity, has been yielded by some of 

 them. The sheep known by the name of the Rye- 

 land breed has been most successful in Britain under 

 this kind of management. 



To the Merino breed, Ovis hispanica has beeu 

 applied, and, as the name implies, is chiefly culti- 



