118 SHEEP. 



4. The Mouflon of Sardinia, Ovis Musimon. (Plate 5. 

 jig. 12.) which is found in Europe, Africa, and America, differs 



from the Jlrgali in never growing to the same size : the female 

 rarely has horns, and when they do exist, they are very small. 

 There are varieties of the Mouflon which are partly or entirely 

 black; and others that are more or less white. This animal lives 

 in troops. 



5. The Domestic Sheep, Ovis Jiries: when young, it is 

 called a lamb, the female, a sheep, and the male a ram ; this ani- 

 mal is too well known to require us to enter into details upon its 

 habits or zoological characters. It is reared in numerous flocks, 

 for the sake of the fleece, which consists of crisped hair called 

 wool, and is sheared every year. It is manufactured into stuffs, 

 cloth, &c. The fat of these animals, which is white and brittle, 

 is made into candles ; the intestines twisted and dried, form cat- 

 gut ; and their excrement affords a warm compost which con- 

 tributes powerfully to increase the fertility of the soil. The skin, 

 freed of its wool, is manufactured into various sorts of soft leather, 

 used for making gloves, lining shoes, &c., and prepared by other 

 processes, it is known as chamois leather, parchment, vellum, fyc. 

 Merino sheep, are remarkable for the fineness of their wool. 

 Formerly, their exportation from Spain was prohibited ; but they 

 are now carried to all parts of Europe, and the United States. 

 The first Merinos were imported into France in 1776, and there 

 are now in that country about 500,000, without counting the 

 mixed breeds. 



6. The shearing of sheep takes place every year about the 

 month of May, June, or July, when, on separating the locks of 

 wool, a new growth is perceived. Sometimes, the wool is 

 washed on the back of the animal before it is cut ; but more fre- 

 quently it is cut without washing, because the greasiness which 

 it possesses protects it from the attacks of insects. 



7. It is estimated that there are in France thirty millions of 

 sheep, which yield annually about fifty millions of pounds of 

 wocl, besides which about fifteen or twenty millions of pounds 

 are imported from Germany, to supply the manufactories of 

 woollen goods. England also imports from Germany about 

 twenty^ five millions of pounds annually, the produce of that 

 country not being sufficient, though very large, to meet the de- 

 mand of the manufacturers. 



4. What is the Mouflon ? 



5. To what uses is the domestic Sheep applied ? What are Merino 

 Sheep ? 



6. How is wool obtained ? 



7. In what countries do Sheep most abound ? 



