248 THE SHEEP AND ITS COUSINS 



appendages being in some instances six or seven ; 

 in all cases the ewes remain hornless. In other 

 respects the Chilian merinos retain all the char- 

 acteristic features of their Spanish progenitors, the 

 wool being as fine, long, and soft as in the best 

 strains of the latter, and retaining the beautiful white 

 sheen distinctive of merino wool. In Fitzinger's 

 account it is stated that the Chilian sheep have in- 

 creased in size and weight, and grow very heavy 

 fleeces, which weigh from 10 to 15 lbs. each; and 

 that the longest and finest wool is the product of 

 the flocks kept on the Cordillera. Improvements 

 in the breed were made about the same time as in 

 Peru by the introduction of fresh stock from Spain. 



On the other hand, Messrs. Neveu-Lemaire 

 and Grandidier^ write as follows with regard to 

 the descendants of the flocks of merino sheep in- 

 troduced by the Spaniards into the Chilian high- 

 lands : — 



"The sheep was nevertheless introduced into 

 the mountain countries, and at the present day it is 

 to be found in considerable flocks on the high 

 plateaus mingled with llamas. But the finest breed 

 speedily degenerated, under the influence of altitude 

 and poor nutriment ; and in consequence of this the 

 sheep of the high plateaus are as poor and wretched- 

 looking as the cattle. They are small, badly made, 



• » Notes sur Us Mammiferes des Hauts Plateaux de F Ainerique du 

 Sud, Paris, 1911, p. 118. 



