On Tunis Sheep. 223 



not all of these crosses (especially where white fleece is 

 the object) shew the tail in perfection ; and I think 

 many are deficient in some of the best qualities of the 

 sheep; and that in proportion to defect of tail, and white- 

 ness of fleece. 



A neighbour, who has, I believe, been accustomed 

 to, or acquainted with, the modes of managing sheep 

 in Ireland, and has great merit in preserving the Tunis 

 breed (obtained from my stock) in high perfection ; 

 avers, that, by attentive selections, and proper manage- 

 ment, he can have Tunis sheep, as white as any others. 

 He succeeds better than I have done ; — and believes 

 what he wishes. — But I perceive, in spots, a cast of 

 tawney tinge, or a departure from blood, in those he 

 deems perfectly white. A strong propensity to believe, 

 wonderfully assists our faith. — A most worthy country- 

 man of his, has often, with fervor and solemnity, as- 

 sured me ; — and he believed it — that the efrgs of Ire- 

 land were the whitest in the world 1 He despised them 

 as an esculent, if the shell had not, what he called, the 

 Irish mark; — that is, — in English, — pure white, — with- 

 out any mark at all. — He held nothing in greater abo- 

 mination than a dyed, — or what he called a pie-bald, 

 caster egg. It was in vain that one attempted to per- 

 suade him that the interior of all eggs was alike ; so far 

 as depended on tints or colour of shell. — De gustibus 

 non est disputandum, — So I have no controversy widi 

 those who do not fancy the wool, — or, if they so please, 

 the mutton, of a coloured sheep. 



Richard Peters. 

 Belmont, May 3d, 1810. 



To the Philad. Soc, for promoting Agrictdture, 



