64 GEOGRAPHICAL AND LOCAL 



animal from the effects of cold, but more par- 

 ticularly the benefit of him whom he had en- 

 throned at the head of his creation, by thus 

 placing at his disposal a material so inestimable, 

 for his use and comfort, as wool. It has been 

 observed that all the wild sheep are clothed with 

 long hair ; but the Guinea sheep, 1 which is 

 found in the tropical countries, both of Africa 

 and India, is the most truly hairy of any, evi- 

 dently a provision of the Author of nature, suited 

 to the climate in which they are found. The 

 fine fleeces of the cultivated breeds appear to 

 have been engrafted, as it were, on the long hair 

 of the wild ones, which, doubtless, have been 

 very much improved by the attention paid by 

 man to his flocks. The influence of climate, 

 the quality of pasturage, a due supply of whole- 

 some food in winter ; and washing and shearing 

 when summer approaches, have all, certainly, 

 contributed to the improvement of this staple of 

 our commerce. But it was God who endowed 

 these animals with those facilities, if I may so 

 speak, of which man availing himself, might 

 produce by culture the valuable article, in its 

 highest perfection, of which I am here speaking. 

 What a difference between the hair of the 

 Guinea sheep, and the beautiful fleece of the 

 Merino, which even seems to be exceeded, in 



1 Ovifs aries africana. L. 



