230 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



sary constitution requisite for a breeder. And while the 

 breeder studies very carefully the form and constitution of 

 his favorite breed, he will not act wisely if he neglects the 

 influence of breeding upon the quality of the wool. For this 

 result of cross breeding for variety of wool has been found 

 exceedingly effective in modifying the character of the 

 fleece and adding to its value for the manufacture of impor- 

 tant varieties of fabrics. 



We cannot follow down the ages the full history of wool. 

 It may be sufficient to merely show how it thrived in the 

 most a.ncient times from the very beginning of human life 

 on the face of the earth, accompanying the savage man 

 whose home was in caves, and gradually advancing 

 with him as he approached civilization, until the first writ- 

 ten history of our race originated. Then we find the an- 

 cient sheep-skin w r as changed for clothing of wool, aaid the 

 fleeces were a large part of the early merchandise of the 

 world. Then wealth was estimated by the numbers of the 

 flocks, while the sheep became the most valuable offering 

 that could be made as the sacrifice to the highest objects of 

 worship. 



As this ancient civilization advanced, the sheep we may 

 be sure was brought under most careful cultivation, and 

 wealthy nobles of the nations were noted for the number of 

 their flocks. This advance, however, was lost to a great 

 extent during that time of anarchy and slaughter which we 

 kno\v as the dark ages, in which, however, the sheep and its 

 wool nevertheless continued as a valuable possession and 

 necessity of life; for the heavy ransoms of captives made in 

 those continuous wars were frequently made in sheep and 

 wool, and such merchandise as then existed consisted largely 

 of bales of wool. 



Indeed, at that period of our race, we know that the shep- 

 herds seemed to control such governments as could exist dur- 

 ing such turbulent times; and the Shepherd Kings, with 

 their shepherd followers, led the world for a considerable 

 time during which a sort of nomadic life prevailed. And as 

 the dark ages passed the sheep survived, and when some 

 sort of settled life became possible, it remained as one of 

 the most valued possessions of our race. Thus in course of 

 ages the sheep survived, in time to become the leading pur- 



