0-2 MAMMALIA. 



Before begmning the operation, which take, place during the 

 months of May and June, the Sheep are plunged into the water 

 and their wool is rubbed with the hand, to c eanse rt from he 

 urease • it is then cut off with shears. All the portions of the 

 fleece which are cut off must hold together without gap or rent. 

 Before it is offered for sale it is doubled and roUed up and firmly 



°in France the trade in wool is very important. It is estimated 

 riiat the flocks there produce about two hundred miUion pounds 



Fi^f. lo;J.— Breed ut Lurzac. 



wei"-ht of wool in the rough, equivalent to seventy-seven million 

 pounds weight of cleansed wool. Scarcely any wool at all is 

 exported; indeed, French manufacturers buy annually about 

 seventy to eighty million pounds weight of foreign growth. 



The French fabric, called Merino, has a well-merited renown. 

 In no other country are they able to produce such brilliancy 

 and softness. In fact, French manufacturers have rendered them- 

 selves worthy of their produce. 



Ox Geniii. This genus is easily distinguished from the other 



groups of the hollow-horned raiminants. It is composed of large 

 and heavy animals, with concave horns, turned outwards, in the 

 shape of a crescent. The head is terminated by a wide muzzle, 

 the legs are strong and robust ; the sldn of the neck is loose and 

 hanging, forming a large fold, called the dew-lap. 



