MEDIUM-TAILED CONTINENTAL BREEDS 127 



first of these the folds extend more or less com- 

 pletely over the whole head and body, and the 

 wool is extremely unctuous, having an unusually 

 large proportion of the oily secretion designated by 

 breeders "yolk." Many of the American and 

 Australian strains belong to this class. In the 

 second class the folds are mainly restricted to the 

 neck and chest, although there may be slight ones 

 at the thighs, and the fleece is less oily. To this 

 class belong some of the Spanish and American 

 types. In the third class, which includes Ram- 

 bouillets, Cape merinos, and the American Delaine 

 strain, folds are absent, the fleece is lighter and 

 less oily than in either of the other two classes, and 

 the carcase is better adapted to the purposes of the 

 butcher. 



Mention having been already made of the Ram- 

 bouillet strain, it must suffice to refer, among many 

 others, to the Spanish negrette strain, which is the 

 largest and strongest of the transhumantes group, 

 with short and rather open wool, much wool on the 

 head and legs, a heavy dewlap, and large horns in 

 the rams. 



It is very noteworthy that all the modern im- 

 provements in the merino have taken place else- 

 where than in Spain. The respective dates of the 

 first importation of these sheep into France, Eng- 

 land, and the United States have been already 

 noted ; and it may be added that they are believed 



