r 



No. 216.] 253 



times; anil that in no country but Spain can be found the original 

 type that distinguish and characterize this bountiful gift of Provi- 

 dence to man, and that these sheep are a distinct race, even as re- 

 gards their anatomical structure. 



I now come to the second part, viz: the origin of the Rambouillet 

 sheep under the care of French government. 



This might appear of secondary interest, but for the civil wars and 

 revolutions in Spain, and the consequent relaxation of those antique 

 laws so essentially conservatory of the pure Merino; and but for the 

 fact that the proprietors of some of the best flocks have caught the 

 baneful mania, and crossed their flocks with the Saxony sheep. 

 Perhaps now the best sheep are to be found in France in the Royal 

 establishments, though a good judge no doubt would find plenty of 

 good and pure bred sheep even in Spain. 



No confidence can be placed but in those selected from the Roy- 

 al flocks, or those derived from them. Tn Spain they are specially 

 linder the care of the King, though he never possessed a single head, 

 and are called " trans humante," or travelling sheep, and are gov- 

 erned by a species of republican senate, with privileges and rights 

 confirmed for many ages, with singular and antique laws, but essen- 

 tially protective, and conservatory. Breeders think if they can prove 

 their sheep came from Spain, that is sufficient; but they must prove 

 they came from the Royal flock, " trans humante," or travelling 

 sheep, to prove they are pure Merinos. 



The first pure Merino sheep introduced into France was procured 

 under the orders of Louis the XVIth, by Monsieur de Trudaine, in 

 the year 1776; it consisted of 200 head; M. M. Daubenton and 

 Buharnois obtained the greatest part of them. 



The second was also demanded and obtained by Louis the XVIth, 

 in 1786; it consisted of 367 head, and under the care of Mons. 

 D'Angivilliers, the whole 367 head formed the foundation of the 

 Rambouillet flocks. 



The third was exacted by the directory, and by a secret article in 

 the treaty of Basia in 1799 it consisted of 5,500 head brought into 

 France at successive periods under the care of Mons. Gilbert Leporte 

 and others. This importation has founded the seven Royal estab- 

 lishments of undoubted purity under the direction of the minister of 

 the interior. 



