376 REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 



is owing to the early introduction of the English breed into 

 that country. 



The other principal breed of stationary sheep consists of the 

 true merinoesy which generally remain in the districts in which 

 they are reared. The sheep of this foreign species a wether 

 of which breed is here delineated have horns of a middle size, 

 of which the ewes are sometimes destitute. Faces white legs 

 of the same colour, rather long, but the bones fine defective 

 in form slow feeders the average weight per quarter of a 

 tolerably fat ram being about seventeen pounds the ewes in 

 the neighbourhood of eleven pounds;- and the mutton is not by 

 most persons as highly esteemed as that of our other favourite 

 breeds, whose peculiar excellence consists in being kind 

 feeders.* With many first rate breeders, symmetry of pro- 

 portion constitutes a principal criterion of excellence with 

 these the merino breed is not in high repute; although it 

 has been most conclusively shewn by Lord SOMERVILLE and 

 Mr. LIVINGSTON, that symmetrical proportions are not essen- 

 tial to the production of fine wool. The merino itself is a 

 living witness of the fact. 



The excellence of the merino consists in the unexampled 

 fineness and the peculiar felting property of their wool; and in 

 the weight of it yielded by each individual, averaging from 

 three to five pounds, and in Spain eight pounds from the ram 

 and five from the ewe. From the closeness of their coat, and 

 the luxuriance of the yolk, they do not suffer much, if any, 

 more than other breeds from the extremes of cold and wet. 

 They are a patient, gentle, quiet animal, and will amply re- 

 compense the hand of careful culture, whether it be extended 

 to them under a burning tropical sun or in the frozen regions 

 of the north. 



The Spanish merino breed was introduced into England in 

 1788, and crosses with the Ryeland, South-down, and other 

 choice fine-wooled breeds soon ensued. GEORGE III. import- 

 ed full-blooded merino rams from Spain, and cultivated them 

 with great care; and in the year 1804 the sales of his improved 

 flocks attracted great attention to the breed. The result of the 

 crosses with the native breeds, did not fulfil the expectations 

 formed; the experiments being too casually pursued, and too 

 hastily abandoned to be decisive. 



* Flocks, however, of the pure merinoes, have been occasionally preserved, 

 and the progeny of these has remained superior to the new or cross breeds. 

 The naturalized rnerinoes retain their natural characters, though the wool he- 

 comes longer and heavier than in Spain, and the body larger. But the entire 

 form of the merino as a feeding animal, is bad he is too small, and the return 

 in mutton deficient both in quantity and value. 



