CHAPTER I. 



Sbccp. 



Their Origin and History. It is beyond question impossi- 

 ble to know, or even surmise, the actual origin of the domestic 

 sheep. It appears very doubtful -whether there exists any con- 

 nection between them and the Argali, or white sheep of Aria, 

 and the Musmon of Sofith Europe and Africa or the Eocky 

 Mountain sheep of Xorth America; even shoiild this connection 

 be believed in, they must have been domesticated in the very 

 remote past, their habits materially changing before any record? 

 appear in the most ancient histories we can command. We 

 find on consulting the Bible that sheep are spoken of in its 

 •earlier passages, and that Abel chose sheep-herding as his 

 vocation, while Cain tilled the soil, and that the jealousy 

 resulting from Abel's offering of a firstling of his flock for 

 .sacrifice, resulted in the first murder of which there is any 

 Tecord. Before agriculture was practiced to any great extent, 

 when the population of the earth was comparatively small, sheep 

 iusbandry was universally followed, their natural disposition 

 and constitution rendering them capable of adaptation to differ- 

 ent climates and conditions, furnishing food and clothing to 

 their possessors, affording a profitable investment to the shep- 

 herd, the most ancient and honorable calling of man. "We find 

 sheep preceeding civilization of the diffei'ent parts of the world. 

 Ancient Greece for many years was the sole possessor of this 

 valuable animal in Europe; its introduction to Italy following 

 the foundation of the Eoman Empire; the Roman Conquests 

 extended their use to the conquered territories, Spain especially 

 affording them an abundance of pasture, and to Spain the honor 



