74 Domestic ANIMALS. 
II.—BREEDS. 
Specimens of nearly or quite all the valuable breeds of sheep 
now known may, it is believed, be found in the United States. 
The principal of these are the Native (so called); the Spanish 
Merino; the Saxon Merino; the New Leicester or Bakewell; 
the South-Down; the Cotswold, the Cheviot, and the Lincoln. 
Between these breeds an almost infinite variety of crosses have 
taken place; so that, comparatively speaking, few flocks in the 
United States preserve entire the distinctive characteristics of 
any one breed, or that can lay claim to purity of blood.* 
1. The Native Breed.—This name is applied to the common 
coarse-wooled sheep existing here previous to the importation 
of the improved breeds. They are, however, of foreign, and 
mostly of English origin, and probably are the result of the ad- 
mixture of various breeds. This common stock of sheep, as a 
distinct family, has nearly disappeared, having been univer- 
sally crossed, to a greater or less extent, with foreign breeds of 
later ‘introduction ; and especially with the Spanish and Saxon 
Merinos. : 
2. The Spanish Merino Breed.—Of this excellent breed there 
have been many importations from France and Spain. There 
are several varieties of the Merino, differing essentially in 
form, size, and quality of wool. American Merinos may be 
classed under three general heads, and are thus described : 
“The jirst is a large, short-legged, strong, and exceedingly 
hardy sheep, carrying a heavy fleece, ranging from medium to 
fine, somewhat inclined to throatiness, bred to exhibit external 
concrete gum in some flocks, but not commonly so. 
“The second general class of American Merinos are smaller 
than the preceding, less hardy ; wool, as a general thing, finer, 
and covered with a black, pitchy gum on its extremities. The 
fleece is about one third lighter than in the first class. 
“The third class, which have been bred mostly at the South, 
are still smaller and less hardy, and carry lighter and finer 
. s 
& * Randall’s Sheep Husbandry. 
