2 HISTORY CF THK SHEEP. 



striated transversely. The horns o( the female are com- 

 pressed, and iiook-shaped. The hair is short in summer, 

 and of a fawn-coloured grey ; in winter it is thick, rigid, 

 and of a reddish grey, with some while about the muzzle, 

 throat, and under the belly. TheMouflon of Sardinia (Oyis 

 MusimoHi Fig. 1. PI. I.) differs from it only in its in- 

 ferior size, and in the smallness of the horns of the 

 female. 



(3.) The Mouflon of America {Ovis Montana) 

 closely resembles the Argali, and is supposed by some 

 to be identical with it, and to have crossed from Asia 

 to America at Behring's Straits by means of ice. 



(4.) The Moujion of Africa ( Ovis Tragelaphns) 

 is distinguished by its soft and reddish hair, by its short 

 tail, and by a long mane hanging under the neck, and 

 another at each ancle ; it inhabits the rocky districts 

 of Barbary, and has been observed in Egypt. 



(5.) British Breeds The breeds of our island, as 



they at present stand, may be divided into two kinds — 

 long-woolled and short-woolled ; the former embracins" 

 the Lincolnshire, the Teeswater, the Dishley, or New 

 Leicester, and the Devonshire Nots ; while the latter 

 will include those of Dorset, Herefordshire, and Sus- 

 sex, with the Cheviot, Mugg, and Black-faced variety.* 



(6). The Lincolnshire has no horns ; the face is 

 white ; the carcass long and thin ; the legs thick, white, 

 and rough ; bones large ; pelts thick ; and the wool from 

 8 to 10 inches in length. The ewes weigh from 14 lbs. 

 to 20 lbs. per quarter ; and three-year old wethers 20 

 lbs. to 30 lbs. The fleece weighs from 8 lbs. to 14 lbs., 



# Encjdopedift Britannica, 7th Edition, Article Agriculture. 



