385 



COMMON SHEEP. 



Ovis Aries. 0. cornibus compressis Ittnatis, Lin. Syst. Nat, p. 97» 

 Sheep with compressed lunated horns. 

 Ovis domestica. Raj. Qiiadr. p, 73. 



Pecus, Aries, Ovis, Vervex, Agnus. PUn. Hist. Nat. VIII. c, 

 47, 48. Gesn, Quadr. p. 872. 912. 925. 927. Aldr. hisuk. 

 p, 370. Jonst. Quadr. p. 54. t. 22. 



Brebis &Belier. Buff, ^.p, i. pi. i, 2. 



Common Sheep, Pennant Quadr, i. p. 37^ 



This animal is so generally known, that a par- 

 ticular description of its form and manners be- 

 comes unnecessary. Its most prominent charac- 

 ters are, that the horns twist spirally outwards ; 

 that the tail is round and short ; and that the body 

 is covered with wool: but these are characters 

 which are so greatly varied in the different races, 

 that it is hardly possible to fix on an absolute 

 distinctive mark which shall apply to all the va- 

 rieties. 



The domestic Sheep, in its most valuable or 

 woolly state, exists hardly any where in perfec- 

 tion except in Europe, and some of the tempe- 

 rate parts of Asia. When transported into very 

 warm climates, it loses its peculiar covering, and 

 appears coated with hair, having only a short 

 wool next the skin. In very cold climates also 

 the exterior part of the wool is observed to be 

 hard and coarse, though the interior is more soft 

 and fine. In England, and some other European 

 regions, the wool acquires a peculiar length and 

 fineness, and is best adapted to the variou-s pur- 



