270 MxiMMALIA. 



about tlie beginning of the montb of April, and they are shorn 

 durino- their journey. The establishments devoted to this opera- 

 tion are so well managed that a flock consisting of one thousand 

 head of sheep can be disburdened of their valuable covering in oue 

 day. They arrive at their destination at the end of the month of 

 May or the beginning of June, and remain there till September, 

 when they repair again to their winter quarters. 



The Merino sheep is, so to speak, a cosmopolitan animal, and 

 may be met with in the most widely-divided latitudes, for it has 

 been introduced into Germany, France, the English colonies at the 

 Cape of Good Hope, Australia, Canada, and the United States of 

 America. 



The definitive introduction of this breed into France dates from 

 the year 1766, when Daubeuton brought from Spain a flock which 



Fig. 101. — Merino Breed of Mauullamp (Ram). 



'he placed in his domain at Montbard, between Chatillon-sur- 

 Seine and Semur (Cote-d'Or). This undoubtedly was the original 

 stock of all the Merinos at present to be found in Burgundy. In 

 1786 Louis XVI. founded the celebrated Sheep establishment at 

 Eambouillet, from where the breed of Merinos has been spread 

 most extensively. 



Having been subjected to various conditions, both of food and 

 climate, this breed has been broken up into varieties, which have 

 caused ihjm to be distinguished under the names of Merinos of 

 Enmboiillet (Fig. 100), of Beauce, of Brie, of Soissonnais, of 

 Champagne, of Burgundy, and of Mauchamp (Fig. 101), specially 

 deserving of notice for their silky wool. 



