90 Col. Humphreys on a new Variety 



Frequent instances have happened where common ewes 

 have had twins by ancon rams, when one exhibited the com- 

 plete marks and features of the ewe ; the other of the ram. 

 The contrast has been rendered singularly striking when one 

 short legged and one long legged lamb, produced at a birth, 

 have been seen sucking the dam at the same time. 



The facts respecting the fleeces have not been so well as- 

 certained. They have been judged by some to be finer and 

 heavier than those of our common breed ; by others, of a 

 medium fineness, but possessing more uniformity of pile on 

 the same, and on different sheep of this kind. I have se^n 

 instances of their varying considerably from each other. A* 



One case, where the young assumed the perfect likeness 

 of the ewe, together with a meliorated pile apparently derived 

 from the ram, is too interesting to be omitted. The inclosed 

 specimen of wool, No. i, is from an ancon-Merino : that is to 

 say, the offspring of an ancon ewe and Merino ram. Its shape 

 is the very image of the former : its wool, which covers almost 

 the whole face, and extends quite down to the fetlocks, of a 

 pretty fine quality (a common sign of the best blooded Me- 

 rinos) partakes the silky feel and felting quality of the latter; 

 with, I judge, about the same portion of fineness as the fleeces, 

 which my quarter-blooded Merinos ordinarily carry. The 

 locks. No. 2, 3, and 4, were clipped from a wether, ram and 

 ewe descended immediately from ancon parents on both sides. 

 The fleece of the former weighed four pounds and a half: 

 those of the two latter somewhat rising three pounds each. 



The ancons have been observed to keep together, sepa- 

 rating themselves from the rest of the flock, when put inta 

 inclosures with other sheep. 



