4 8 



THE DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS 



In modern times, with increased attention to the care of 

 flocks and to breeding, the rate of improvement in the 

 qualities of the fleece has been even more strikipg. In the 

 wild species, the wool is hidden beneath short hair; in 

 modern improved breeds, so successfully has fine wool been 

 encouraged at the expense of the rougher hair that it is 

 almost or quite impossible to distinguish any hair amongst 

 the wool. The wool of the primitive Soay breed is shorter 



Fig. 9. Black-faced Sheep an illustration of development in length of wool. 

 (Champion, Highland Show, 1914.) 



than 3 inches and the fleece averages under one pound in 

 weight; often enough the shaggy wool of a Black-face trails 

 upon the ground and the average fleece of a good hill flock 

 weighs from 4^ to 5 pounds, while a Cheviot ram. may bear 

 a fleece of 10 to 12 pounds weight. 



The parti-colours of the wild species have been replaced 

 by a coat of uniform colour, and in most breeds the original 

 shades of brown have been eliminated in favour of white wool. 



