THE DOMESTIC SHEEP 311 



irritated ram is no mean opponent, and his impetuous 

 charge will lay low a bull at the first blow. 



It is impossible to say from what wild species the domes- 

 ticated Sheep is derived, as it would be profitless to attempt 

 to enumerate the breeds, which in every country present 

 more or less peculiar modifications. Sheep-breeders every- 

 where aim at producing in their animals either specially fine 

 wool or meat of superior quality, and in some of even the 

 common breeds these two features are largely combined. 

 The covering of the wild Sheep consists chiefly of hair, with 



SKELETON OF THE SHEEP. 



wool at the roots, much as a coating of down lies beneath 

 the feathers of some birds. In the course of domestication 

 the hair has practically disappeared, while the wool has been 

 developed into the thick, soft fleece that contributes so 

 largely to the clothing of mankind. 



Of all the breeds of Sheep, the Merino of Spain is noted 

 for the excellence of its wool. Unfortunately the British 

 climate is unfavourable to its introduction into our own 

 country, but it has been transferred to many parts of the 

 world with excellent results. Australia at the time of its 

 discovery possessed no Sheep of any kind of its own. 



