THE AMERICAN MERINO 489 



Columella, directed attention to the superior fleece of the sheep 

 of Spain. As early as the eighth century, when the Saracens 

 took possession of Spain, they established many mechanical arts, 

 among which was the woolen industry, and the Spanish sheep 

 furnished the fiber. The statement has been made that in Seville 

 no less than sixteen thousand looms existed in the thirteenth 

 century. Some of the Spanish cloths were highly esteemed for 

 their quality. By the fifteenth century, however, the Moors had 

 been largely driven from Spain, and the woolen industry fell 

 into decay and finally became unimportant. Later an attempt was 

 made to revive the manufacture of fine fabrics from wool, but 

 without success. Undoubtedly these early sheep were much infe- 

 rior to those we know to-day in America, but without question 

 they produced finer wool than did other European sheep. The 

 modern improvement of the Merino is distinctly an American 

 accomplishment. The Spanish government opposed most of the 

 first exportation, and many sheep were smuggled from the country. 



Two great groups of Spanish sheep existed in times past. 

 One, known as Estantes, or stationary, consisted of flocks of the 

 coarser-wooled types, and these remained permanently on many 

 of the hill farms. The other group, termed Trans kumantfs, or 

 migratory, consisted of flocks that were driven during the spring 

 season, under the care of competent shepherds, across country 

 and into the mountains over a grazing region, to be returned 

 in the fall to their original home. The Transhumantes were 

 divided into two classes the Leonese and Sorian. The former, 

 was the more numerous and was the more highly esteemed. 

 Most of the sheep brought to America from Spain belonged to 

 the Transhumantes group. 



The annual Merino drives in Spain were most important affairs. 

 Youatt l writes as follows : 



The Leonese after having been cantoned during the winter on the north 

 bank of the Guadiana, in Estremadura, begin their march about the fifteenth 

 of April in divisions of two or three thousand. They pass the Tagus at Almares, 

 and direct their course towards Trecasas, Alfaro, and L'Epinar, where they 

 are shorn. This operation having been performed, they recommence their 



1 William Youatt, Sheep : Breeds, Management, and Diseases, p. 1 50. London, 

 1837. See also M. Tessier, Instruction sur les Betes a Laine. Paris, 1810. 



