and Extension of the Merino Breed of Sheep. 401 



denominated Magna Graecia, from the supposed origin of its inhabitants. This 

 breed was also sometimes called " Asianum," * probably from the opinion of its 

 having been derived from Laodicea in Syria, where, according to Pliny, sheep of 

 a similar kind existed in his time.t ' - . 



The perfection of both these breeds seems to have consisted in certain common 

 qualities. The ewe was to have a large carcase, capacious belly, short legs. "^ The 

 ram a wide breast, shoulders, and buttocks, a long and deep body, and a broad 

 and long tail.^ The fleece was to be thick, soft, and deep, especially about the 

 neck and shoulders. It seems to have been with a view to the increase of wool 

 on this finest part of the animal, that the Romans thought a long neck valuable in 

 the ewes. The ears and forehead of the rams were to be involved in woo! ; and 

 no individual of either sex was tolerated, of which the wool did not clothe the 

 whole belly. Those which were defective in this valuable quality had the appella- 

 tion of " Apicae." Regard was also had to the horns. It is a memorable circum- 

 stance in these sheep, that the rams had generally horns, and the ewes none. || Of 

 the horned rams, those which had them twisted and turned flat backwards or down- 

 wards were preferred, as being less dangerous than those in which they were pro- 

 minent or spreading. Still, however, the knot, polled, or hornless rams, " mutili 

 " arietes," were most esteemed.lT 



It is impossible for any who reads this description, and who is acquainted with 



* Grascas oves, sicut Asianas, Tel Tarentinas. Palladii November, xiii. 



f In Asia vero eodem genere Laodicea. Plin. Hist. Nat. viii. 73. 



J De forma, ovem esse oportet corpore amplo, qux lana multa sit et molli ; villis altis et densis 

 toto corpore, maxime circa cervicem et collum ; veiitrem quoque ut habeat pilosum. Itaque quae 

 id non haberent majores nostri apicas appellabant, ac rejiciebant. Esse oportet cruribus humili- 

 bus. Varron. lib. ii. cap. z. Eliges ovem vasti corporis, cervice prolixa, prolixi villi, nee asperi, 

 lanosi et ampli uteri. Nam vitandus est glaber et exiguus. Columel. vii. 3. In ipsa ove satis ge- 

 nerositatis ostenditur brevitate cruriim, ventris vestitu. Quibus nudus esset, apicas vocabant, 

 damnabantque. Plin. Hist. Nat. viii. 75. 



f Ex forma, si arietes sint fronte lana vestiti bene — lana opertis auribus, amplis pectore et sca- 

 pulis, et clunibus latis, cauda lata. Varron. ii. 2. Habitus autem arietis maxime probatur cum 

 est altus atque procerus, ventre promisso atque lanato, densique velleris. Columel. vii. 3. 



II Ovium nulla (cornua) nee cervarum. Plin. Hist. Nat. xi. 45. 



fl Tortis cornibus pronis ad rostrum. Varron. ii. 2. Intortis cornibus : non quia niagis hie' 

 sit utilis (nam est melior mutilus aries) sed quia minime nocent intorta potius quam surrecta et 

 patula cornua. Columel. vii. 3. 



VOL. V. 3 F 



