CHAPTER VII. 



SHEEP OF THE UNITED STATES AND 

 SOUTH AMERICA. 



WOOLLY SHEEP OF ROCKY MOUNTAINS— OTTER SHEEP— ARLING- 

 TON LONG WOOLED SHEEP— SMITH'S ISLAND SHEEP— REMARKS 

 ON MERINOS AND SAXONS— PRAIRIE MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP- 

 OBSERVATIONS ON WOOL CULTURE IN THE SOUTH, AND SOUTH- 

 WESTERN STATES— CENSUS STATISTICS— SOUTH AMERICAN SHEEP 

 —ALPACA, OR PERUVIAN SHEEP— WOOL CULTURE ON THE PAM- 

 PAS. 



SHEEP OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Neither North or South America can boast of any abo- 

 riginal or primitive domestic breeds of sheep : those which 

 have received the name of " native" having been brought 

 over at various periods from Europe by the colonists. 



Before proceeding to notice several of these breeds, it will 

 be proper to refer to an animal found among the Rocky 

 Mountains, which is confounded with the Argali, and known 

 as the " woolly sheep." Captain Bonneville says, " This 

 animal is found about the country of the Flathead Indians. 

 It inhabits cliffs in summer, but descends into the valleys in 

 the winter. It has white wool, like a sheep, mingled with 

 a thin growth of long hair ; but it has short legs, a deep 

 belly, and a beard like a goat. Its horns are about five inches 

 long, slightly curved backwards, black as jet, and beautifully 

 polished. Its hoofs are of the same colour. This animal 

 is by no means so active as the big horn ; it does not bound 

 much, but sits a good deal upon its haunches. It is not so 

 plentiful either ; rarely more than two or three are seen at 

 a time. Its wool alone gives it a resemblance to the sheep ; 

 it is more properly of the goat genus. The fleece is said to 

 have a musty flavor ; some have thought the flesh might be 

 valuable, as it is said to be as fine as that of the goat of 

 Cashmere, but it is not to be procured in sufiicient quantities." 



