126 THE SHEEP. 



the wethers, when fat, at two years and four months old, 

 weigh from ten to twelve pounds the quarter. 



The climate of the Isle of Portland is moist, and the natural 

 herbage is largely mixed with wild thyme. The number of 

 Sheep in the Island amounts to about 4000. Some years ago 

 a flock of them was taken to the Derby hills by Sir George 

 Crewe, M. P., and it is said that they supported well this 

 change of climate and situation. No purpose, however, of 

 economical utility can be served by carrying this curious 

 breed beyond the narrow limits where it has acquired the 

 characters which are proper to it. 



XIV. THE MERINO BREED. 



From early times, Spain has been noted for the production 

 of numerous flocks of Sheep, and of wool adapted to the 

 fabrication of the finer cloths and tissues. This country 

 presents great diversity of surface and natural productions. 

 Towards the south and east it is more African in its charac- 

 ter than any other part of Europe. The interior consists of 

 elevated plains, bounded and traversed by long ranges of 

 mountains, the summits of which sometimes rise almost to 

 the region of perpetual congelation. Descending from these 

 chains of mountains are several noble rivers, which carry 

 their waters to the Mediterranean and Atlantic through 

 plains and valleys of surpassing richness and beauty. The 

 climate varies greatly with the altitude, but the air is every 

 where pure and dry. The vegetable productions are those 

 of the warmer as well as of the colder parts of the northern 

 temperate zone. The orange, the citron, the olive, and the 

 vine, are common productions of the lower plains ; the rocky 

 mountains are covered with cisti, arborescent heaths, and 

 many beautiful and fragrant herbs ; and, in the cultivated 

 country, are mingled the plants of the warmer with those of 

 the temperate regions, the maize, the sugar-cane, the rice, 



