34 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



THE NATIONAL DELAINE. 



This is another sub-breed of this class which originated 

 in Washington County, Pa., in 1880, mainly through the 

 efforts and influence of Mr. J. C. MeNary. This locality has 

 a past history in regard to its sheep and its skillful breeders, 

 common with Vermont, and the outgrowth of it has beeo a 

 somewhat special class of Merino sheep known as the Wash- 

 ington County Merino. Nearly thirty years ago rams were 

 brought from Vermont and crossed on the sheep then known 

 as the native Merino. This crossing resulted in the form of 

 sheep now known as the American or National Delaine, a 

 sheep with a long fleece fit for combing,' and yet retaining its 

 peculiar fineness and strength of fiber, and as well having a 

 larger carcass than the original Merino with far better 

 mutton character. That these different varieties should be 

 formed in the limit of a single county speaks strongly as 

 to the skill and intelligence of the sheep breeders, of whom, 

 those organized in the various parts of the county, each 

 formed in their minds what kind of sheep they wanted 

 to meet the demands of the butchers and the wool ma/nu- 

 facturers together; and going to work made each kind of 

 sheep they desired. No more evidence of the intelligence of 

 these breeders can be afforded than these useful sheep to 

 which their ideas have given form in these local sub-breeds. 

 They have satisfied every need of the shepherd; a fine heavy 

 fleeced sheep for the wool manufacturer and a well bodied 

 one for the butcher. 



These examples testify to the correctness of the views of 

 the author expressed in the chapter on breeding, by which 

 he shows that variation in breeding is the expression of a 

 personal idea of fitness and value, and that locality, with 

 varying conditions, must necessarily lead to variations in 

 type, just as these instances of these sub-breeds formed by 

 individual instincts, as might be said of the intelligent 

 breeders, and the personality of each breeder, is expressed 

 in his favorite type of animal. That the association of these 

 intelligent breeders to form scales of points and permanent 

 distinguishing types of sheep have been duly formed, and 

 are now in action, is the only means possible of preserving 

 these types permanently; and while each one can scarcely 

 be called a distinct breed, the outgrowth of these if well 



