144 Loology. 
sake of reference to synonymes; and even then it will be difficult to say 
which ought to be preferred. 
Is science forwarded or retarded by such a procedure? “ Speak ye who 
best can tell.’ Universality of language is, in the first instance, the main 
desideratum, and is worth almost any sacrifice. One name is as good as 
another, if every one understands what is meant by it; and it should be 
made to serve as long as possible, till observation and information shall 
have enabled some select and indisputable authority to institute a perfect 
system of classification and nomenclature. As an example of the evil 
effects of those embarrassing fluctuations in classification, I may mention 
that Temminck’s Or nithology had experienced a very favourable reception. 
He is a practical or nithologist, who had prosecuted the study for years, had 
been educated in museums, visiting every cabinet in every capital of Europe ; 
thus establishing a reputation w hich entitled him to respect. His work was 
beginning to be generally adopted as a manual, text, or class-book, for Eu- 
ropean or nithology sit thas been rigidly adher ea to by Mr. Sailer in his 
account of the zoological productions of the aretic regions, and by Mr. 
Selby in the letter-press of his illustrated work on British birds. Last year 
out comes Dr. Fleming’s History of British Animals, and, so far as concerns 
British ornithology, away goes Temminck ; and thus are incessantly issuing 
from the press new nomenclatures and classifications, most of which, from 
peculiar circumstances, never will, and never can, be accepted by the 
scientific world. But of these I shall, with your permission, enter ito a 
more particular analysis in my next. I am, Sir, &c. — Hypercrito. June 6. 
1829. 
Art. II. Zoology. ’ 
THE Puruk Sheep of Ladusk, —Sir, Having lately met, in the Transactions 
of the Royal Asiatic Society, vol. i., an interesting paper, by Mr. Moorecraft, 
on the Tartar population, and productions of the Himalaya Mountains, 
amongst which he particularly notices a singular breed of sheep, that, he is 
of opmion, would prove a most valuable acquisition to these countries, if 
introduced amongst us: to effect which, it appears, he had even taken 
some steps, though I fear ineffectually, as we have since heard no more 
about them. As the subject is of some importance, and in unison with the 
object of your Magazine, I beg leave to send you some extracts from Mr. 
Moorecraft’s paper, in the hope that their publication, through a medium so 
widely circulated, may excite an enquiry how far his patriotic and benevo- 
lent intentions have been carried into effect, or induce an endeavour to fulfil 
them: now more than ever called for, at a period when our small farmers 
are every day sinking in the scale of society ; and the British cottager, with 
narrowing means of support, is suffering distress and privation to which he 
has heretofore been a stranger. 
“ The Puruk Sheep of Ladusk, when at full growth, is scarcely as large 
as a South Down lamb, six months old; yet, in fineness and weight of 
fleece, and flavour of mutton, added to its peculiarities of feeding and con- 
stitution, it yields not in merit to any race hitherto described. It gives two 
lambs in twelve months, and is twice shorn within that space: the clip 
may afford, in the annual ageregate, 3 Ibs. ; and the first yield is fine enough 
for tolerably good shawls. The British floc ‘kmaster would be delighted w ith 
the fineness of the bone, the spread of the carcass, the hardiness of its con- 
stitution, and its aptness to fatten. The Puruk sheep, if permitted, thrusts 
its head into the cooking-pot, picks up crumbs, is eager to drink the remains 
of a cup of salted and buttered tea, or broth, and examine the hand of its 
master for barley, flour, or for a eleanly picked bone, which it disdains not 
