14- Essay on Sheep. 



man ; but it will certainly be useful to bring 

 together the observations that have been made 

 by different men at different periods, and to 

 comprise in one little volume what must now 

 be sought in various and expensive collections, 

 written in different languages, and for the most 

 part out of the reach of those of my fellow 

 citizens to whom this is addressed. 



1 have already observed, that an animal which 

 propagates slowly, which has no means of de- 

 fence, and which invites by its extreme timidity 

 the attack of its enemies, without possessing 

 the agility to avoid them, could never have 

 existed under its present form in a savage state, 

 but must at all times have owed its protection 

 to man. Should any country in which sheep 

 exist be depopulated, the total extinction of the 

 race would follow the depopulation : we must 

 then seek for the original stock, or prototype of 

 sheep, in some quadruped which possesses force, 

 address, or agility enough to enable it to exist 

 without the aid of man. Some have sought 

 this in the goat; but this is evidently a distinct 

 animal, though very nearly related; since the 

 he goat will produce with the ewe a lamb 

 without wool, that will be productive. But the 

 ram will not impregnate a she goat, which 

 marks an obvious distinction in the race, and 



