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XI. On a new Variety in the Breeds of Sheep. By Colonel David 

 Humphreys, F. R. S. In a Letter to the Right Hon, Sir 

 Joseph Banks, Bart, K, B. P. R. S. 



Read January 14, 1813. 



Sir, 



Humphreysville (in the State of Connecticut), Nov. i, 1811. 



1 PROPOSE to give some account of a new variety in the 

 breeds of sheep, which has lately sprung up in America. 



Seth Wight, who possessed a small farm on the banks of 

 Charles river, in the town of Dover and State of Massachu- 

 setts, about sixteen miles distant from Boston, kept a little 

 flock composed of fifteen ewes and one ram. In the year 

 1791, one of the ewes produced a lamb of singular appear- 

 ance. By the advice of some of his neighbours, he killed his 

 former ram, and reserved the young one for breeding. The 

 first season, two lambs only were yeaned in his likeness. In 

 the following years, a number more, distinguished by the same 

 peculiarities. Hence proceeded a strongly marked variety in 

 this species of animals, before unknown in the world. It has 

 been called by the name of the Otter breed. 



This name was given from a real or imaginary resemblance 

 to that animal, in the shortness of the legs and length of the 

 back ; by some supposed to have been caused by an unnatural 

 intercourse; by others, perhaps as fancifully, from fright 

 during gestation. It is only certain, that otters were then 



