DIFFUSION OF DOMESTICATED SHEEP 249 



and of variable colour ; some being white, some 

 piebald, and others — and these the most numerous 

 — black." 



Merinos are also bred in the small island of Chiloe, 

 off the Chilian coast, and there, too, the rams display 

 the same tendency to a redundant horn-development. 



Unlike Chile and Peru, Brazil received its first 

 sheep at the hands of the Portuguese, who at the 

 commencement of the seventeenth century im- 

 ported long-legged Guinea sheep from the west 

 coast of Africa. Half a century ago this breed 

 was the most abundant and widely spread in the 

 country — as it may be still — having taken as 

 kindly to its new home as did the West African 

 cattle and dwarf goats introduced at ' ' e same time. 

 Merinos and other Spanish breeds of sheep have, 

 however, been likewise introduced into various 

 parts of Brazil, while in the southern districts some 

 of the best German breeds were acclimatised at a 

 comparatively early date. 



Early in the seventeenth century the Spaniards 

 introduced the Guinea long-legged sheep into the 

 Guianas and West Indies, where, as stated in an 

 earlier chapter, they have flourished exceedingly, 

 and developed into a distinct breed or sub-breed. 

 Attempts have been made to introduce European 

 sheep and cross them with the long-legged breed, 

 which is, however, better suited to the climate, and 

 therefore holds its own. 



