CONTENTS. 



XVIII. An Essay on the Nature, Produce, Origin, and Extension of the Merino Breed 

 of Sheep : to which is added a History of a Cross of that Breed with Ryeland Ewes ; 

 descrihing their polities and Produce, and a successful Method of managing them. 

 By Caleb Miliar Parry, M. D. F. R. S. Mender of the Royal College of Ply si ci ant 

 cf London, and of the Medical Society of Edinburgh; Honorary Member of the Physical 

 Society of Gottingen ; a Vice President of the Bath Agricultural Society ; one of the 

 Physicians of the General Hospital, and Physician to the Casualty Hospital and 

 Puerperal Charity in that City. - « _ page 337 



PART I. 



NATURE, PRODUCE, ORIGIN, AND EXTENSION OF THE 

 MERINO BREED OF SHEEP. 



CHAPTER I. 



^esiion proposed ly the Board of Agriculture. — ^entity and Falue of the superfine IVooi 

 imported into England from foreign Countries. - _ - jjg 



CHAPTER II. 



- Merino Sheep in Spain ; their Form / Quality and ff^eight of their Fleeces. Difference 



of Flocks, folk. Loss of Weight in scouring. Chemical Nature of the Tolk. Equality 

 of Wool in different Parts of the Fleece. IVool of the Lambs. Constitution and Habits 

 of Merino Sheep. The Rams only horned. Increase of the Species. Merinos rarely 

 eaten. Pastures. Travelling. Shearing. Sorting the IVool, JVashing it. Lamb's 

 fVotl. tVool of the Estantes. Diseases; the Scab; Giddiness ; the Claveau. Nature 

 of the Mesta, ______ 342 



CHAPTER III. 



- Origin of the Merino breed of Sheep. By some attributed t» England. Inquiry into the 



polity of English IVool, Cloth, and Sheep, from the earliest Times to the latter End of 

 the i-jth Century. Merinos not derived from Britain. Not brought from Africa 

 Not existing in Spain in the Time of Strabo, Columella, or Pliny. Nature of the fine- 

 woolled Sheep of ancient Italy. Coincidence of the Merino Breed with that Race. 

 Probably a Colony of thenif while Spain was a Privince of Rome, • 357 



