3 THE SHEEP. 



near the Arctic Circle, eastward through the boundless wilds 

 of Chinese Tartary, and westward through Persia into Asia 

 Minor and Syria. In the higher latitudes of Asia, the same 

 character is retained ; but the Sheep themselves become di- 

 minutive, and the tail is small, and carried upwards in the 

 manner of the Goat. The small Sheep with this character 

 have been regarded by naturalists as a variety or class, 

 which has been termed Brevi-cauda. In the more tem- 

 perate latitudes, the flat tail becomes long, and, in certain 

 countries, is loaded with fat, so as to form a great part of 

 the weight of the animal. This peculiarity is the most deve- 

 loped in the Sheep of the countries of the Euphrates, in Asia 

 Minor, Syria, and part of Arabia ; where, when the animals 

 receive rich food, or are kept in pens and houses, the tail 

 becomes of such large dimensions, that it trails upon the 

 ground, so that it is frequently supported by little sledges to 

 keep it from incommoding the animal. The Sheep having 

 these broad fat tails are frequently designated the Syrian 

 Breed, and are sometimes brought to England under the 

 name of Turkish Sheep. Aristotle, Pliny, and others, refer 

 to them ; and there is reason to believe, from certain no- 

 tices in the Levitical laws, that they were the kind of Sheep 

 cultivated by the ancient Jews. They are a very valuable 

 race in the countries which produce them. The large tail, 

 weighing sometimes of itself 40 or 50 lb., is greatly valued, 

 and the fat is used along with other food as butter or oil. 

 The ewes are prolific, producing twice in the year, and yield- 

 ing a larger quantity of milk than any other known race of 

 Sheep. 



But towards the countries of the Caspian Sea, a remarkable 

 deviation from this form occurs. The tail becomes short, or 

 rudimental, and the fat accumulates on the haunches, form- 

 ing two great cushions. This character is chiefly observed 

 in the Sheep of the countries bordering on the Caspian, and 

 the great saline lake of Aral, becoming less prominent as we 

 recede from the immense basin which contains these seas, 



