SPANISH SHEEP, MERINOS, ETC. 61 



fleeces of which varied in color and quality. One of these 

 was black, and noted for its fine texture ; but the " red 

 fleece," as it was called, of Boetica, Granada, and Andalusia, 

 was superior in fineness to all others. The breed which bore 

 the latter, it is now generally believed, were originally from 

 Italy, and of the Tarentine variety, already described. They 

 were crossed with the more inferior kinds, while others of the 

 race were kept distinct; and from the congeniaUty of the 

 climate and herbage, retained their original superiority of 

 fleece.* 



In the reign of the Emperor Claudius (A. D. 41), Colu- 

 mella, a distinguished lover of agriculture, introduced many 

 of the Tarentine breed into Spain, of which he was then a 

 resident; and also improved the inferior breeds, by convey- 

 ing into the colony some African rams of singular beauty, 

 which had been exhibited at Rome, and which will account 

 for the probable origin of the Chunah breed, to be presently 

 noticed. 



Although the Tarentine sheep undoubtedly laid the foun- 

 dation of the excellence of the Merino race, yet the breed 

 betray an amalgamation to have taken place to some extent 

 with the black sheep, referred to, as individuals occasionally, 

 at the present day, have a dun-colored ear, and also spots of 

 that hue on one or more of the legs. 



In the eighth century the Saracens or Moors conquered a 

 portion of Spain, and which, in the language of a writer, 

 " they found fruitful in corn and pleasant fruit, and glutted 

 with herds and flocks." This warlike and enterprising race 

 were distinguished for their luxurious customs, and a fine 

 and expensive wardrobe was regarded an object of essen- 

 tial importance. Hence, in the 13th century, Spain became 

 renowned for her woollen manufactures, then scarcely known 

 in the rest of Europe, and Seville alone contained no less 

 than 16,000 looms. The manufacture therefore of the finest 

 fabrics was the source of much national wealth, as large 

 quantities were exported to every part of Europe, as well as 

 Africa. 



But after the expulsion of the Moors, manufactures be- 

 came almost extinct. Nearly a million of these enterprising 



* The evidence of the foreign origin of the Merino is implied in the 

 name, of which " the Spanish orthography is Mareno, which signifies 

 from or beyond sea." — William Jarvis. 



6 



