250 [Assembly 



MERINO SHEEP.* 



BY MR. ANCRAM, of Michigan. 



The following paper, though not strictly practical, will perhaps he 

 read with interest, as is everything relative to this valuable race of 

 sheep. It is a condensed translation from the French, in part, with 

 my own researches and remarks. 



Of the origin of the Spanish Merinos, and of the origin of the 

 Ramhouillct sheep, under the care of the French Government. 



Some say that this race are natives of Spain, others that they 

 came from Africa. Some even pretend to seek their origin in Eng- 

 land; however this type is no whereto be found in that country. 



Martial was a Spaniard; he lived in the first age of our era, and 

 in his time the wool of the BcEtica and Cantabria was very much 

 esteenaed at Rome. He says: " On the left bank of the Guadiana, 

 of which Emerita Augusta was the capital, now Merida, was part 

 of the Bcetica, and on the other part Julia Brega, capital of Canta- 

 bria in the Aquiiar del Carapo, towards the sources of the Ebro." 



If we consider that these same places are still the centre of the 

 habitation of the fine race of Leoneses; that a part of the Bcetica 

 answers to that of Estremadura, where these flocks pass their winter, 

 and that the Cantabria comprises the extremities of Leon and Old 

 Castile, where they sojourn in summer, we find sufficient reason in 

 all this to assign to this race no other country as the region where 

 they originated, than where we find them at this day. 



An importation of sheep has been cited by Columella from Africa, 

 and some thought to find there the origin of the Merinos; but nei- 

 ther history nor tradition has transmitted anything of the pre-emi- 

 nence of the African sheep over those of other countries; besides 

 Columella was contemporary with Martial, and if the amelioration 

 of the flocks were the effect of an African cross on the Spanish 



• This article, by Mr. Ancram, of Michigan, was communicated to the American 

 Institute by Daniel Mallory, Esq., of New-York. 



