SPANISH SHEEP, MERINOS, ETC. 63 



division is termed ti'anshumantes* or migratory, which are 

 annually driven to the north of the kingdom for pasturage 

 during the summer months. 



The latter are composed of the Leonese, and the Soriaiis. 

 The former pass the winter on the north bank of the Gaudi- 

 ana, in Estremadura, and begin their march about the 15th 

 of April, in divisions of from two to three thousands. They 

 pass the Tagus at Almares, and direct their course towards 

 Trecasas, Alfaro, and L'Epinar, where they are shorn. 

 This operation having been performed, they recommence 

 their travel towards the kingdom of Leon. Some halt on 

 the Sierra (ridge of mountains) which separates Old from 

 New Castile, but others pursue their route to the pastures 

 of Cevera, near Aquilar del Campo. Here they graze until 

 the latter part of September, or early in the following 

 month, when they commence their return to Estremadura. 



The Sorian sheep having passed the winter on the con- 

 fines of Estremadura, Andalusia, and New Castile, begin 

 their route about the same time. They pass the Tagus at 

 Talavera, and approach Madrid ; thence they proceed to So- 

 ria, where a portion of them are distributed over the neigh- 

 boring mountains, while the others cross the Ebro in order 

 to proceed to Navarre and the Pyrenees. 



These periodical journeys are made necessary by the 

 severity of the drouth in Spanish Estremadura, from the 

 close of April till near the 1st of October, which parches 

 the plains to such a degree as to destroy almost entirely the 

 growth of the pasture. The rains commence falling about 

 the autumnal equinox, and continue, with intermissions of a 

 few days only, until the latter part of March. In a few 

 weeks from their beginning the plains assume a beautiful 

 verdure, and so continue till the approach of the dry season ; 

 and during this time the thermometer rarely falls below 40 

 deg.f The rains are of frequent occurrence in the summer 

 season on the sierras or mountains ; and thus these numer- 

 ous migratory flocks are supported the entire year on grass, 

 which the Spaniard at one time supposed was the cause of 

 some of the valuable properties of the Merino fleece. The 

 fallacy, however, of this has been fully proved. 



* From trans and humus, expressive of their change of climate and 

 pasture. 



t William Jarvls. 



