74 DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



II. BEEEDS. 



Specimens of nearly or quite all the valuable breeds of sheep 

 now known may, it is believed, be found in the United States. 

 The principal of these are the Native (so called) ; the Spanish 

 Merino ; the Saxon Merino ; the New Leicester or Bakewell ; 

 the South-Down ; the Cotswold, the Cheviot, and the Lincoln. 

 Between these breeds an almost infinite variety of crosses have 

 taken place ; so that, comparatively speaking, few flocks in the 

 United States preserve entire the distinctive characteristics of 

 any one breed, or that can lay claim to purity of blood.* 



1. The Native Breed. This name is applied to the common 

 coarse-wooled sheep existing here previous to the importation 

 of the improved breeds. They are, however, of foreign, and 

 mostly of English origin, and probably are the result of the ad- 

 mixture of various breeds. This common stock of sheep, as a 

 distinct family, has nearly disappeared, having been univer- 

 sally crossed, to a greater or less extent, with foreign breeds of 

 later introduction ; and especially with the Spanish and Saxon 

 Merinos. 



2. The Spanish Merino Breed. Of this excellent breed there 

 have been many importations from France and Spain. There 

 are several varieties of the Merino, differing essentially in 

 form, size, and quality of wool. American Merinos may be 

 classed under three general heads, and are thus described : 



" The first is a large, short-legged, strong, and exceedingly 

 hardy sheep, carrying a heavy fleece, ranging from medium to 

 fine, somewhat inclined to throatiness, bred to exhibit external 

 concrete gum in some flocks, but not commonly so. 



" The second general class of American Merinos are smaller 

 than the preceding, less hardy ; wool, as a general thing, finer, 

 and covered with a black, pitchy gum on its extremities. The 

 fleece is about one third lighter than in the first class. 



" The third class, which have been bred mostly at the South, 

 are still smaller and less hardy, and carry lighter and finer 



* Randall's Sheep Husbandry. 



