228 THE PASTORAL AGE IN AUSTRALASIA 



by sheep in their European and American evolution, and 

 left the latest behind. 



The breeder has ransacked the world to find the 

 materials for fashioning his perfect sheep. Three varie- 

 ties of the Spanish merino, which date from the beginning 

 of the seventeenth century, and these further modified 

 by a detention in Germany, formed the ground-sources. 

 To these add one famous French breed, also of Spanish 

 parentage ; one purely Spanish type, imported direct 

 from Spain ; four American types, also of Spanish origin, 

 immediately or remotely. All these varieties have been 

 blended in the AustraHan merino so completely that the 

 visitor describes the sheep on every station as being 

 " thorough-bred mongrels." That, of course, is an in- 

 correct expression, but it adumbrates the number of 

 strains now blended in Australian merinos. They are 

 believed to be unequalled or unapproached in confor- 

 mation of carcase and length, silkiness, weight, spinning 

 character, and general quality of wool. The mixing of 

 the breeds answers to the blend of the human population, 

 and has but one base — the Spanish merino, imported 

 vid Germany, the modified descendant of the primitive 

 European sheep. The breeders who have thus " made " 

 Australia would form a long but honourable roll of 

 " makers," known and unknown, who must here, per- 

 force, remain anonymous. 



The evolution of Australian cattle might similarly be 

 described as consisting of the blending of the many great 

 English stocks by a multitude of breeders, who might 

 reasonably claim a place in all accounts of the making 

 of Australasia. 



