THE SPANISH MERINO SHEEP. 127 



pete with them on their native mountain tops, and none are more 

 profitable on the lowland pastures, than a cross upon them of 

 small pure-bred Southdowns, Cotswolds, or Leicesters. The flocks 

 usually kept number from 50 to 500 head. 



THE SPANISH, FRENCH, AND GERMAN MERINOS. The Merinos 

 of Spain, France, and Germany, although they now possess differ- 

 ent characters and habits, have the same origin. The French, 

 Saxon, and Silesian flocks, were all originally from Spain. The 

 Spanish Merino existed as a distinct race 2,000 years ago, and the 

 fine robes of the Roman Emperors were made from the wool of 

 the Spanish flocks. There is no history or tradition as to their 

 origin which can be accepted as reasonable by any practical 

 shepherd. It is probable, however, that the fine wooled 

 sheep, which we read of in the ancient histories, were rather 

 the natural product of very favorable conditions of soil and 

 climate by which inferior races were greatly improved, than of 

 any direct efforts to breed them up to a desired standard. Yet 

 luxurious Romans may undoubtedly have created a demand for 

 fine wools, which Spanish shepherds knew how to produce by 

 coupling suitable animals, for the art of breeding was well under- 

 stood in those ancient days, and many of the maxims of modern 

 breeders are simply reproductions of those in vogue as long ago as 

 the early Christian era. The finest sheep of Spain, when they 

 first attracted notice, were found widely scattered over that coun- 

 try, divided into varieties occupying distinct provinces, and those 

 rarieties, again, were subdivided into large flocks, owned by 

 wealthy proprietors, each of which flocks possessed such marked 

 characters as would entitle it to be considered as a distinct family 

 or sub-variety. The system of culture by which these various 

 families became possessed of their special characteristics, are well 

 described in an essay by Dr. R. R. Livingston, which was pre- 

 sented to the Society for the Promotion of Useful Arts, of New 

 York, in the year 1809. It is unnecessary here to do more than to 

 refer to this work. It is sufficient to record the fact that, at a 

 very early period of modern history, Spain possessed the only 

 valuable flock of fine wool sheep in the world, and that all other 

 naturalized races of Merino, our own included, have been derived 

 from that country. It may be added, that to a great extent, if not 

 altogether, Spain has lost her pre-eminence, and breeders do not 

 now resort thither for fresh importations. The Spanish sheep are 

 estimated to number ten millions, in which are included Merinos 

 of the two now remaining families, the Infantado or Negretti, and 

 the Escurial, and various oth.er fine and coarse wool sheep. ThQ 



