116 



IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREEDS. 



have been distinguished, by having six fingers and six 

 toes, on their hands and feet. It is in like manner to 

 an accidental malformation, that the Americans are 

 indebted for their Otter breed of sheep. Mr Living- 

 ston, who wrote in 181 1, thus describes them : '* The 

 Otter sheep were first discovered on some island, on 

 the eastern coast, and have spread to the adjoining 

 states. The sheep are long-bodied rather than large, 

 and weigh about 15 lbs. a quarter. Their wool is of a 

 medium fineness, and a medium length ; but that which 

 particularly characterizes these sheep is the length of 

 their bodies, and the shortness of their legs, which are, 

 also, turned out in such a manner as to appear rickety. 

 They cannot run, or jump, and they even walk with 

 some difficulty. They appear as if their legs had been 

 broken and set by some awkward surgeon. They can 

 scarcely exist in a deep country, and they cannot pos- 

 sibly be driven to a distant pasture or market." Dr 

 Dwight, in his travels in New England, remarks of this 

 curious variety, that the fore legs are remarkably short, 

 and bent inward, *' so as distinctly to resemble what are 

 called club-feet."* I believe this to be the only instance 

 where man has availed himself of a defect in the animal 

 kingdom, and turned it to his advantage. Attention 

 ought also to be bestowed on the order in which diflTerent 

 parts of the animal are subjected to changes during 

 crossing. These, according to Dr Sturm, the latest 

 observer on this head, are first exhibited in those parts 

 that possess a power of being reproduced, as the haii', 



« Sheep are as liable to distortions of the skeleton as other aniuiai*. 

 The Museum of Guy's Hospital contains a very good specimen of di* 

 torted s-pine taken from a sheep. 



