vi PREP^ACE 



Although the subject is chiefly discussed from 

 the natural history point of view, the mode of 

 treatment ought to render the book useful and 

 interesting to breeders and flock-masters, as well as 

 to that large class of readers who take an intelligent 

 interest in everything relating to the animal life of 

 the world around them. Whether it will lead to 

 experiments with regard to introducing into Great 

 Britain the breeds of which the lambs yield the 

 valuable " Astrakhan " pelts, the future alone will 

 show. 



As the various species and races of wild sheep 

 are discussed in another and larger volume by 

 myself, they are treated but briefly in the present 

 one, which contains, however, fuller information 

 with regard to many of the local races, and also 

 indicates some important changes and modifications 

 in classification. 



In conclusion, it may be pointed out that 

 although many modern naturalists affect to despise 

 the study of domesticated animals, such master- 

 minds as Charles Robert Darwin and Ernst 

 Haeckel fully realised its value and importance, as 

 is made evident by the following extract from the 

 works of the latter : — 



"Wild animals and plants, one year after 

 another, appear approximately in the same form, 

 and thus give rise to the mistaken doctrine of the 

 constancy of species ; domesticated animals and 



