and Extension of the Merino Breed of Sheep, 357 



M. D'Aranda should have been so narrow-minded as to have observed, that, if 

 his opinion had been followed, these exportations would never have existed. 



These are all the important particulars which I have been able to collect from 

 authentic sources respecting the nature, treatment, and produce of the Merino sheep 

 in Spain. , 



CHAPTER III. 



Origin of the Merino Breed of Sheep. By some attributed to England. Inquiry 

 into the Quality of English Wool, Cloth, and Sheep, from the earliest Times to 

 the latter End of the ijth Century. Merinos not derived from Britain. Not 

 brought from Africa. Not existing in Spain in the Time ofStrabo, Columella, 

 or Pliny. Nature of the fine-xvoolled Sheep of ancient Italy. Coincidence of 

 the Merino Breed u>ith that Race. Probably a Colony of t/jem, while Spain 

 was a Province of Rome. 



It is in vain that I have looked into authors for any plausible explanation of the 

 name Merino, or any authentic history of the origin or introduction of the race 

 itself. 



The English, not deficient in a laudable conviction of superiority in the produc- 

 tions of their own country, have long asserted that this breed was either derived 

 from England, or, at least, was greatly improved by the admixture of some English 

 variety ; which they do not hesitate to say was the Cotswold. 



This opinion seems to be chiefly founded, first, on the supposed and boasted 

 pre-eminence of English wool, which, from a very early period of our history, 

 caused it to be sent in great quantities to the continent of Europe, either in the 

 raw state, or in the form of cloth ; and, secondly, on the general prohibition of the 

 exportation of sheep, and the specific permission to export them, on some occa- 

 sions, as a matter of high fa-'our, to other countries, and even to Spain itself. 



There is no positive evidence that sheep existed in ancient times in this island. 

 Julius CaCvjar says, that it contained '' pecoris magnum numeium"' * Pomponius 

 Mela also calls the Britons, " pecore et finibus dites." t Now the word " pecus" 

 * De Bello Gallico, Jib. v. ^ xu, t De Situ Orbis, lib. iii. cap. vi. 



