Essay on Sheep. IS 



him natural marks by which to designate his 

 property; while, in their native state, they wear 

 an unvaried uniform, with now and then such 

 an exception to this rule, as to aftbrd a hint to 

 man, and the means of grafting a permanent 

 change upon accidental varieties. 



The power of man to effect useful altera- 

 tions in the animal creation, is in nothing more 

 obvious than in those which sheep have under- 

 gone. It is impossible to see this animal over- 

 loaded with wool, slow in its movements, and 

 possessed of no means of defence against its 

 numerous enemies, without being convinced 

 that such an animal could never exist in a state 

 of nature. That it must therefore owe its im- 

 perfections to man, as it pays him by those very 

 imperfections for his support and protection. 



I have thought that the natural history of 

 this animal, with an account of its varieties, 

 would not be uninteresting to my fellow citi- 

 zens; more particularly if it was accompanied 

 by such didactic remarks as would contribute 

 to the improvement and perfection of the breed 

 in such manner as to enable us to draw the 

 greatest profit from it. 



It will easily be conceived, that little new 

 can be offered relative to a quadruped that has 

 iso long lived under the care and observation of 



