DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



327 



from Spain to France in 1786. The French merinos were brought 

 to Hartford, Connecticut, in 1840. They have large bodies and 

 the wool is very 

 compact and very 

 long, often being 

 inches 

 They 



Southdown. 



over three 



in length. 



mature early and 



are very hardy. 

 The medium- 



wooled breeds are 



sometimes classed 



as mutton sheep, 



since their flesh is 



prized more highly 



than their wool. 

 The Southdowns 



are natives of Sus- 

 sex County, England. They are rather small, have short wool, 



and are hornless. v They are good feeders and mature early, and 



their flesh is of fine 

 flavor. Their use in 

 America datesback 

 to colonial times. 



The Shropshires 

 came originally 

 from Staffordshire 

 and Shropshire, 

 England, and were 

 first brought to the 

 United States by 

 Samuel Sutton of 

 Maryland, in 1860. 

 They are larger 



Shropshire. than the South- 



downs and they 



have faces, ears, and legs that are generally of a dark brown color. 

 They rank well as wool producers and general-purpose sheep. 



