and Extension of the Merino Breed of Sheep. 403 



from time immemorial have found its way into Spain, and into that country only," 

 except by immediate communication. 



I have mentioned that the Spanish flocks are frequently led by goats. We find 

 fifom TibuUus that this was a common expedient among the Romans.* 



The dogs which follow the flocks in Spain are not intended, as in England, 

 France, and most other European countries, to assist the shepherd in guiding and 

 regulating the sheep ; but are of a strong and fierce kind, serving to guard both 

 against the depredations of wild beasts and robbers. So also the Roman dogs ; 

 the qualities, uses, and treatment of which are minutely described by Varro and 

 Columella.t Exclusively of the sheep or goats expressly trained for the purpose 

 of driving and restraining the flocks, the only means employed in both these coun- 

 tries were the voice and staff or crook.;]; 



It is certainly also chiefly for defence, that the Spaniards, like the ancient 

 Romans, sometimes fold their sheep with stroirg nets. ^ 



In some of these instances, there may have been coincidences of practice sug- 

 gested by similarity of circumstances; but this could not have been the reason why, 

 in order to avoid variegated fleeces in the offspring, both nations should exclude 

 rams with spotted mouths or tongues from the privilege of breeding, || if, a"; Listeyrie 

 asserts, spotted lambs are not more frequently generated by such rams, than by 

 those whose mouths and tongues are of one uniform flesh colour. 



jumenta sale maxime solicitantur, multo largiore lacte. Plin. Hist. Nat. xxxi. 41. Pecus potu 

 pinguescit: ideo sal illis aptissimus. Idem. x. 93. Salis tamen crebra conspersio, vel pascuis 

 mista, vel canalibus frequenter oblata, debet pecoris levare fastidium. Pallad. November § xiii. 



* Dux pecoris hircus: duxerat hircus oves. Tibulli lib. ii. el. i. v. 58. 



f Canis enim ita custos pecoris, ut ejus, quod eo comite indiget ad se deferidendum. In quo 

 geiiere sunt maxime oves. Has enim lupus captare solet, cui opponiraus canes defensores. Var- 

 ron. ii. 9. Alterum (canum genus) propellendis iiijuriis hominum ac ferarum ; et id observat, 

 domi stabulum, foris pecora pascentia. Columel. vii. 12. 



X In cogendis recipiendisque ovibus adclamatione ac baculo minetur; nee unquam telum emit- 

 tat in eas. Columel. vii. 3. 



§ In saltibus quae pascuntur, et a tectis absunt longe, portant secum crates, aut retia, quibus 

 cohortes in solitudine faciant. Varron. ii. 2. 



II Animadvcrtendum quoqne linguane nigra aut varia sit ; quod fere qui ea habent, nigros aut 

 varies procreai<t agnos. Varron. ii. 2. Itaque non solum ea ratio est probandi arietis, si vellcre 

 candido vestitur, sed etiam si palatum atque lingua concolor lan^ est ; nam cum has corporis 

 partes nigrs, aut maculoss sunt, pulia vel etiam varia nascitur proles. Columell. vii. 3. 



3 F 2 



