SHEEP AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 187 



remarked by an intelligent writer,* " scarcely admit- 

 ting of improvement." It is supposed that most of 

 the Escurial sheep which found their way into this 

 country are but indifferent specimens of this cele- 

 brated variety of the Merino. Their fleeces are 

 somewhat lighter than those of the Paulars, Negret- 

 tis, &c., and altogether they bear a close resemblance 

 to the genuine Saxons, of which they are the parent 

 stock. 



According to Mr. Lasteyrie,f the Negretti " are 

 the largest and strongest of all the Spanish travelling 

 sheep." The Guadaloupe "have the most perfect 

 form, and are likewise celebrated for the quantity 

 and quality of their wool." The Paulars " bear much 

 wool of a fine quality ; but they have a more evident 

 enlargement behind the ears, and a greater degree 

 of throatiness." 



As the last named was one of the principal varie- 

 ties introduced into the United States, a more par- 

 ticular description of it may not be unacceptable. 

 The sheep of the Paular Convent are large, with 

 heavy, but, compared with the Escurial or Saxons, 

 coarse fleeces. The wool of the pure bloods con- 

 tains a considerable quantity of jarr or hair, and it 

 abounds in yolk, to such a degree, that it catches and 

 retains at its extremities much floating dust, the pol- 

 len of hay, &c. This gives it a peculiarly stiff and 

 hard feeling externally. It however forms an ex- 

 cellent protection against storms and cold. The 

 form of the Paular is generally good ; but an unusu- 

 ally large dewlap, so plaited and doubled as to go by 

 the popular appellation of " the ruffle," extends from 

 the lower jaw to the brisket, presenting a great ob- 

 stacle to the shearer, and an unseemly and ungrace- 

 ful appendage in the eye of the refined breeder. 

 On the sides of the neck, and not unfrequently the 



* Cultivator, vol. ii., p. 150. 



t " Farmer's Series," vol. on Sheep, p. 156. We quote Mr 

 Youatt. 



