80 EUROPEAN SHEEP. 



in France, about 40 miles from Paris. He accordingly de- 

 termined to procure a small breeding flock, with a view of 

 raising bucks to restore the fine-wooled sheep of our coun- 

 try to their original character for strength of constitution 

 and weight of fleece, together with excellence of quality. 

 ******* 



" The result of our observations, and the information we 

 obtained, with respect to these Spanish Merinos from the 

 Royal flocks of Rambouillet, and the produce bred from them 

 in this country, is : — 



" 1. They possess as good constitutions, and are as thrifty 

 and as hardy as any native or imported sheep whatever. 



" 2. They attain a great age, having been known to reach 

 20 years, and may be depended on as good breeders till 12 

 or 14 years old. 



" 3. They have large, loose skins, full of folds, especially 

 around the neck and below it, on the shoulders, and not un- 

 frequently over the whole body ; the wool thickly covering 

 its surface, the forehead, cheeks, and the legs, clear down to 

 the hoofs, giving the fleece, when shorn and spread out in its 

 ample dimensions, the appearance of having been taken from 

 the carcase of a huge buflalo, rather than so small an ani- 

 mal as the domestic sheep. 



" 4. The fibre of the wool is very fine, quite equal to the 

 best Merino in Spain, and is the very antipodes of that of 

 which so much complaint is made by the manufacturer, of 

 being harsh, dry, crispy, and wiry. The fleece opens of a 

 brilliant creamy color within, on a skin of rich pink, and is 

 soft, glossy, wavy, and very even over the whole body ; is 

 exceedingly close and compact, and has a yolk free from 

 gum, and easily liberated when it comes to be washed, but 

 which protects the wool from the weather, and keeps it free 

 of the dead ends that are so objectionable. It becomes of 

 the purest white when scoured by the manufacturer, and 

 still retains its mellow, oily touch, so grateful to the hand- 

 ling of good judges. Its felting properties are beyond dis- 

 pute, making it a choice material for the manufacture of fine 

 cloths." 



SWISS SHEEP. 



There are several breeds of sheep in the several Cantons 

 of Switzerland. The valley sheep are not dissimilar to the 



