222 On Tunis Sheep. 



portion is white. But I have not found, that whiteness 

 is the criterion of quality or fineness ; and I have often 

 found the tawney^ the finest wool. Every part, of every 

 colour, but black, will take dyes, equal to any wool of 

 any species. Whiteness is therefore of little substantial 

 importance, or benefit. If the Merino wool had no 

 other excellencies, real or fanciful, its whiteness or 

 cleanliness would not recommend it ; as it is not, so far 

 as I have seen, remarkable for either. We must take 

 things as God made them ; if we would have them ac- 

 cording to their kind. Art as often fails, as succeeds, 

 in attempts to ameliorate. The lambs of the Tunis breed 

 are white ^ recl^ tawney, bluish^ and black; — but the few- 

 est of the latter. All (except the black) grow white in 

 the general colour of the fleece, though most com- 

 monly coloured in spots ; and either tawney or black 

 generally marks the cheeks and shanks ; and sometimes 

 the whole head and face. A perfectly white Tunisian^ is as 

 much deteriorated by this singularity of departure from 

 stock, as is an Albino negro ^ who is an Anomaly in the 

 African race of men. I have seen some nearly white 

 sheep, of this breed, and tolerably high blooded, after 

 three or four crosses with this object ; but I never liked 

 them the better for this circumstance ; which 1 always 

 considered a departure from blood and race. The 

 whiteness of fleece was obtained from the sires, or dams, 

 of the crosses. The sire commonly gives the character 

 to the progeny. I would not, however, be understood 

 to say, that mixtures, or crosses, with well selected 

 sheep of other kinds, are prejudicial. On the contrary, 

 I have had, and have seen with others, fine sheep 

 of half» three quarters and seven eighths blood. But 



