342 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



v 



without horns, covered with wool on the summit ; that on 

 the body fine, white, close, short, and curled. 



The Roussillonne furnishes very fine wool, the filaments 

 or piles twisted spirally ; it is derived from the Merino race. 



The Ardennoise likewise extended over part of the Ne- 

 therlands, is horned, and bears very fine wool; and the 

 Norman is lately much improved. 



In Germany this part of rural economy is likewise im- 

 proved and improving; the Saxon and Bohemian flocks in 

 particular furnish wool of a very superior quality. 



We must add a dwarf breed mentioned by Mr. Bewick 

 as brought from abroad. It was hornless ; the wool round 

 the head forming a sort of hood, with the ears erect in 

 front ; the forehead projecting, chaffron concave, and the 

 lower jaw protruding, and shewing the teeth ; the tail long, 

 and wool white and curling. 



America is destitute of indigenous domestic sheep ; but 

 the United States have been attentive to preserve and im- 

 prove the breeds originally imported from England. Me- 

 rinos have been introduced at high prices, but it is found in 

 the Atlantic States that the Spanish Sheep accustomed to 

 roam, do much mischief on small farms, and they are now 

 mostly sent into the back settlements ; nor is the object of 

 woollen manufactures as yet in the States of the Union of 

 equal importance with the clearing of land and growing 

 crops : this branch of industry has, consequently, not con- 

 tinued to fix the national attention. 



We need not enter upon a subject so universally known 

 as the utility derived from every part of the Sheep, nor ex- 

 patiate on the beautiful cloths obtained from wool in 

 England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the 

 United States. Our information on this interesting species 

 of animal, besides personal inquiry, and fifty-six mostly ori- 

 ginal drawings in our portfolios, is principally derived from 

 Count de Buffon, Messrs. F. Cuvier, Desmarets, Carlier, 



