388 MANY-HORNED SHEEP. 



The principal varieties of the Sheep are the fol- 

 lowing : 



CRETAN SHEEP, 



Ovis Strepsciceros, 0. rectis carinatis JiexuosO'spiralibus. Litim- 



Syst, Nat. p. 98. 

 Sheep with upright^ carinated, spirally contorted horns, 

 Strepsiceros. Pli7i, Hist. Nat. 11. c. 37. 



This variety is principally found in the island 

 of Crete, and is kept in several parts of Europe for 

 the singularity of its appearance ; the horns being 

 very large, long, and twisted in the manner of a 

 screw: those of the male are upright; those of the 

 female at right angles to the head. This animal 

 is ranked as a distinct species in the Systema Na- 

 turae. 



MANY-HORNED SHEEP. 

 Ovis Polycerata. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 97. 



This occurs in the northern parts of Europe 

 more frequently than in other regions, and is said 

 to be most common in Iceland. The horns are 

 either three, four, or five in number ; sometimes 

 placed with great regularity, and sometimes dif- 

 fering in proportion and situation. A four-horned 

 variety, with very long hairs hanging from the 

 breast, is also found in some parts of Europe : the 

 two largest horns, in this kind, are strait, and 

 ^;iearly upright on the top of the forehead, while 



