REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 375 



The South-downs, the Dishleys or new Leicester s, and the 

 Merinoes, are the only breeds extensively cultivated among 

 us at this day; and as they possess every necessary quality of 

 excellence, it would seem unnecessary to extend the variety. 

 The characters of the two first mentioned breeds, are given at 

 pages 366 and 368. The latter breed, or merino, which seems 

 now to be most generally diffused or sought after, is here 

 noticed more at length. 



The Merino or Spanish sheep, the wide diffusion of which 

 in all wool-growing countries has effected a complete revolu- 

 tion in the character of. the fleece* ancient authors inform 

 us that about the beginning of the Christian era, there were 

 breeds of sheep existing in Spain of a variety of colours, white, 

 black, red and tavvney, and that the red-wooled sheep were 

 considered superior to the others. Mr. YOUATT supposes that 

 these breeds were originally from Italy. COLUMELLA, a colo- 

 nist from Italy, and uncle to the writer of a most excellent 

 work on agriculture, resided at Baetica, in Spain, during the 

 reign of CLAUDIUS, (A. D. 41;) he introduced to his farm some 

 fine African rams and a few of the Tarentine sheep and it is 

 altogether probable that his experiments laid the foundation 

 for a general improvement in the Spanish sheep an improve- 

 ment which was not lost, nor even materially impaired, during 

 the darker ages which succeeded. t But Spain, it should be re- 

 membered, possessed valuable breeds of sheep previous to the 

 time of COLUMELLA; but the great and permanent improve- 

 ments that took place, were, as before remarked, the unques- 

 tionable results of his enlightened views, and judicious and 

 persevering efforts. 



The Spanish sheep are divided into the estantes or sta- 

 tionary, and the transhnmantes^. or migratory. The first 

 are those that remain in flocks on a farm or district the last 

 wander some hundred miles twice a year in search of food. 

 The stationary division consists of two breeds. The first is 

 the Chunah breed, entirely different from the merino, larger, 

 taller, heavier, with the head smaller and devoid of wool. The 

 wool is of inferior value; yet the breed extends almost through- 

 out the whole of Spain, and is very numerous even where the 

 merinoes abound, and are found in their greatest perfection. 

 In the year 1464, EDWARD IV., King of England, sent as a 

 present to JOHN, King of Arragon, a score of Cotswold ewes 

 and four rams, which, it appears, were crossed with the 

 Chunahs: and from this circumstance has originated the ab- 

 surd story that the present excellence of the merinoes of Spain 



* Sheep Husbandry, p. 145. t Ibid, 164. 



t From trans and humus, indicative of their change of climate and pasture. 



