32 



THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



the existing sbeep, so as to produce an excellent mutton 

 animal with an improved fleece. A smooth bodied animal 

 was desired, well covered with a good fleece of long stapled 

 fin<3 wool, and having a broad back and deep quarters. The 

 best milking quality was one of the main objects as well as 

 to get rid of the deeply wrinkled body. This desire led to 

 the formation of The Standard Delaine Spanish-Merino As- 

 sociation, in great part due to the efforts of Mr. S. M. 

 Cleaver of Washington County, Pa., a locality noted for its 

 fine sheep and intelligent and enterprising flock owtners, for 

 many years past. A scale of points was established in which 

 prominence is given to the fleece, its quantity and quality, 

 length and strength of staple; and equally to the size and 

 form of carcass, the mutton qualities of which are estimated 

 by the deep and rounded quarters, the broad straight back, 

 and the weight of the rams at not less than 150 Ibs. and of 

 the ewes not less than 100. 



These standards are now considerably surpassed, in fact, 

 as the rams weigh 170 to 200 Ibs., and the ewes 120 to 150. 

 This sheep matures early and fattens easily. 



DOM PEDRO. 



Imported from France by M. Desselert, 1801. 



