[11] 



the sheep. The celebrated Merino existed at that time in 

 Spain, though the breed has been greatly improved since. 



The portion of Spain resting on the Mediterranean Sea 

 was inhabited by colonists, or rather the descendants of 

 colonists from Greece. It is supposed that the expedition 

 of the Argonauts, who were Greeks, to Colchis, in search of 

 the Golden Fleece, was really an expedition in search of a 

 breed of sheep whose wool was so excellent, and so highly 

 prized, that it was termed the Golden Fleece. They re- 

 turned with it, as is told by the poet, and thus Greece be- 

 came the owner of the best sheep then known. When 

 Spain was settled, it is natural to suppose they brought their 

 flocks with them. At all events, it is certain that the breeds 

 of sheep running on the slopes of the Pyrennees are iden- 

 tical with those of the Poloponessus. On the southern 

 coast of Italy some of these sheep had in all probability 

 been dropped by the Greek emigrants, and they had attained 

 a great reputation in the times of Augustus. They were 

 called Tarentine sheep, from Tarentum, the capital of 

 Apulia, the province of Italy, where they were raised. 

 Columella, a very rich Roman, emigrated to Spain in the 

 year 30 A. D., and carried some of the Tarentine sheep with 

 him, thus giving a cross to those already there. Some of 

 the same breed were carried to Saxony, and by constant 

 inbreeding they procured a wool of exceeding fine texture, 

 but in other respects preserved the same distinguishing 

 characteristics of the Merino. This breed differ in many 

 respects from the common sheep. The wool is not long, 

 but is closely curled, and matted with an exudation from 

 the skin of the sheep called yolk, that closes it on the ex- 

 ternal surface, preserving it from trash and dirt. They will 

 also retain the fleece for four or five years unshorn, while 

 the common sheep will, if not sheared, shed the wool an- 

 nually. The common sheep have little or no wool on the 

 legs, belly, or head, but the Merino will carry a full fleece 

 all over its surface. Let the Merino be carried to whatever 



