66 THE EAMBOUILLET' 



number of any other breed. The length of the wool varies from 

 one to four inches. As a general description we find the Merino 

 is of fair size; head handsome; decorated with horns, the head 

 short around ears and well covered with wool. The horns 

 are open and wide, well turned and marked with fine transverse 

 wrinkles. The nose is short and may be pink in color, but a 

 darker shade is preferable. The neck is short but full and gains 

 character from the heavy folds of skin which adorn both males 

 and females. The shoulders should be very wide over the tops, 

 the body long, ribs deep and well sprung. The legs are short, 

 the hocks incline to be cat-hammed. Folds of skin are gathered 

 round the base of the tail which, from their disposition, are 

 called the rose. The wool must grow over the whole body down 

 to the claws, and wool fibres are often seen growing out of the 

 clefts of the hoof. 



Cbc RambouiUct. 



The origin of the French Merino dates back to 1721, when 

 some ewes were imported from Spain into France. This impor- 

 tation was followed by another about 1750, and in 1776 M. Tru- 

 daine, the French Minister, imported another flock. In 1785 

 Louis XYI., King of France, who owned an estate called Eam- 

 bouillet, established there an experimental farm and obtained 

 permission to purchase and export from Spain a flock of pure- 

 bred Merinos, which he placed on this estate. This importation 

 was made from the finest flocks of Spain, being selected from, the 

 flocks known as the Serales, Paular, Xegretti, Escurial, Alcola, 

 San Juan, Portaga Iranda and Salezar. Of this importation 366 

 head, composed of forty-one rams, 318 ewes and seven wetherp, 

 arrived safely at Rambouillet, although thirty-five of the ewes 

 and sixtv lambs succumbed to foot-rot soon after their arrival. 



