32 Essai/ on Sheep. 



its length is generally about three inches, but 

 when drawn out it will stretch to nearly double 

 that length. Though the wool is, when cleaned, 

 extremely white, yet on the sheep it appears of 

 a yellowish or dirty brown colour, owing to 

 the closeness of the coat, and the condensation 

 of the perspiration on the extremities of the 

 fleece. The wool commonly covers great part 

 of the head, and descends to the hoof of the 

 hind feel, particularly in young sheep; it is 

 also much more greasy than the wool of other 

 sheep. Spain contain*? besides the Merinoes, a 

 variety of other sheep. Those called the Cho- 

 aroes are much longer, larger, and higher upon 

 the legs than the Merinoes. Their heads are 

 smaller, and deprived of wool. Their con- 

 stitutions are stronger than those of the Me- 

 rino. Their wool near eight inches long, but 

 straighter and of less value than that of the 

 Merino. This race extends through all Spain, 

 even into those provinces in which the Me- 

 rino is most perfect. The other sheep are a 

 mixed breed between those and the Merino. 

 The number of these two species is computed 

 at about 6,000,000. Among the Merinoes there 

 are varieties, probably occasioned by the care 

 or fancy of the original cultivators of this va- 

 hjable stock in dift'erent parts of Spain. Castile 



