SHEEP. 



divided into tlnec different parcels, as 

 it is taken from the back, niinp, and 

 tliiiilis, and shoulders, or head, belly, 

 and iioeks, and tiiese are resjiectively 

 valued as superfine, fine, and waste. 

 The wool is washed first in water at 

 120° Fahrenheit, and afterward in 

 running brooks. It is stated that 

 there are no less than fifty thousand 

 shepherds employed in tending these 

 sheep, which are generally divided 

 into flocks of a thousand each. These 

 shepherds are a singular race of men, 

 sleeping on the ground while on their 

 journey, and living in huts during the 

 rest of the year, and existing on a 

 spare diet, varied occasionally with 

 some mutton from their flocks, which 

 accident or disease may have afford- 

 ed them. 



" The sheep remain in their sum- 

 mer quarters till September, when 

 they set out for their return. The 

 rams are put to the ewes in July, so 

 that tlie lambs are dropped soon after 

 the flock arrives at tlieir winter 

 quarters. 



" In these long and tiresome jour- 

 neys, it cannot be otherwise than ex- 

 pected tiiat great loss should be ex- 

 perienced from casualties and dis- 

 ease. A great mortality takes place, 

 and no less than half the lambs are 

 destroyed, in order that the others 

 should have the advantage of a double 

 number of nurses. Tlie migratory 

 system is more ancient than advan- 

 tageous. It would, indeed, be far 

 more profitable if the sheep were 

 stationary, and the breed varied so 

 as each to be bred on the most suit- 

 able pastures. 



" The stationary sheep are termed 

 Estantes, and consist partly of large 

 sheep, and partly of .Merinos, besides 

 the mixed breeds ; and it is found that 

 the stationary Merinos do better than 

 the migratory ones in every respect. 



" For many centuries the Merino 

 sheep were confined to Spain, and 

 preserved with jealous care. Sweden 

 appears to have been the first country 

 which succeeded in procuring them ; 

 and in 1723 a small flock was im- 

 ported from Spain, and there are now 

 about seven hundred thousand in 

 702 



1 Sweden, but they are somewhat in- 

 ferior to the original breed. In 

 France many attempts have been 

 made to cultivate them during the 

 last century, but altogether with but 

 little success. In Germany, how- 

 ever, the experiment has been emi- 

 nently successful. The Elector of 

 Saxony introduced the first flock in 

 1705, and about ten years afterward 

 another small flock was brought to 

 Austria; and in 178G and 1802 they 

 were introduced to the imperial do- 

 mains of Holditch in Hungary, and 

 Maunersdorf in Austria. Such is the 

 origin of the German Merino, which 

 has now spread so extensively over 

 these vast countries. There appear 

 to be now two distinct breeds, differ- 

 ing from each other both in appear- 

 ance and the quality of the wool. 

 First, the Infantado, orNegretti, hav- 

 ing shorter legs and a stouter body 

 than the others, and the head and 

 neck comparatively short and broad ; 

 the nose short and somewhat turned 

 up, and the body round. The wool, 

 observes Mr. Carr, is often matted 

 upon the neck, back, and thighs, and 

 grows upon the head to the eyes, and 

 upon the legs to the very feet. The 

 grease in its fleece is almost pitchy, 

 so as to render the washing difficult. 

 This breed is descended from the 

 sheep imported directly from Spain 

 into Austria, while the other breed, 

 called Escurial, are those which were 

 flrst imported into Saxony. They 

 have longer legs, with a long, spare 

 neck and head, with very little wool 

 on the latter ; and a finer, shorter, 

 and softer character in its fleece, bu< 

 less in quantity than the other breed 

 The fleece, in the Escurial, averages 

 from one and a half to two pounds in 

 ewes, and two to three pounds in 

 rams and wethers ; while in the In- 

 fantados it is from two and a quarter 

 I to three and a quarter in ewes, and 

 j from four to six pounds in rams and 

 wethers. 



•' Many attempts have been made 

 to amalgamate these breeds, but 

 without success ; the advantages of 

 each can only be retained by pre- 

 serving them pure. 



