4,4.6 Hislofy of the Author's 



the latter, which are deteriorated by a fifth cross of such Merinos as I have been 

 able to employ, to be heavier than their finer predecessors. 



There is also a great difference in the weight of the fleece at different ages of the 

 sheep. It may naturally be expected to increase till the animal has reached his full 

 size ; which is not before he has six teeth, or is between three and four years old; 

 and it certainly diminishes as he becomes decrepid through age. I have seen the 

 fleece of the same ram vary in tv.'o years from 7 lb. 90Z. to 54- lb. This especially 

 takes place after the teeth are so much injured by age, as to prevent the animal from 

 feeding ; for it is universally found that the quantity of wool is, within certain 

 limits, dependent on a sufficient quantity of wholsome nourishment. This, how- 

 ever, was not the case with the ram which I have mentioned, and which was in 

 tolerable condition; so that the decline of age itself has certainly some power of 

 rendering the fleece thinner in the sheep tribe, just as it causes the hair to fall off in 

 the human race. It is also observed, that, as old age makes human hair grey, so it 

 produces weakness and fragility in wool. 



I have before mentioned that, in the opinion of the Spaniards, nursing ewes give 

 less wool than those of the same age which are barren. Hereafter I shall examine 

 this point more particularly as to my own flock. 



Upon the whole, I should conceive that, under all circumstances of proper age, 

 plenty of nourishment, and equal fineness of fleece, my flock taken together would 

 give upwards of 51b. of wool in the yolk, without reckoning that which falls out 

 in the shearing. But then I must observe, that this does not include the fleeces of 

 the lambs, which have yielded, unwashed, if lb. each, of very valuable wool. 



Nothing, certainly, can be more woolly than these sheep. I have rams whose 

 faces are so loaded, that they can scarcely see; and which are covered with wool, 

 not only on their bellies and hind-legs, but on their fore-legs down to the 

 hoofs. 



Having already shewn that the proportion of the finer parts of the fleece is at 

 least equal to that of the native Merino, I shall readily be believed when I speak of 

 the uniformity which there is between the wool of the vshoulder and that of the 

 rump. The latter is, in fact, sometimes finer, and generally more closely and thickly 

 set on, than the latter. 



I have spoken above of the extreine yolkiness of the Merino wool in Spain. 

 This is also considerable in that of the Mcrino-Ryeland. In this breed, as in the 



