238 The various Breeds of Sheep in Great Britain. 
lambs are somewhat tender and require care for the first week, 
after which they are pretty safe. Tlie fleece is still valuable, 
thoug'h light in weight, averaging about 4 lbs. 
Merino. — This breed, originally introduced into England by 
the late King George 111., though not strictly a native breed, 
deserves notice here as the parent stock from which are chiefly 
descended the large flocks in our colonies of Australia and the 
Cape of Good Hope, from which this country receives annually 
such large supplies of fine wools. The flockmasters in these 
colonies are accustomed from time to time to import Merino 
rams from this country for the purpose of improving their 
fleeces, as it is found that the Saxon and French Merinos, though 
producing a fleece of the finest quality, are not altogether so 
suitable for their purpose, as they are smaller and more delicate 
in constitution, and give a less return in wool. There are but 
few Merino flocks in England ; those now remaining are de- 
scendants of the Windsor flock. Lord Somerville's, Lord Western's, 
Mr. Trimmer's, and others, and now exhibit a marked difference 
from the original Merinos, which were essentially a 7TOo/-producing 
breed, Avhereas the English Merinos of the present day are much 
improved in size, symmetry, and in disposition to fatten ; at the 
same time the fleece has been increased in length of staple and 
in weight, without any great deterioration of its peculiar fineness. 
The average weight of the fleece may be taken at 6 to 8 lbs. ; 
in some rare instances it is met with much heavier. They are 
hardy, and not more subject to disease than our other breeds ; 
they thrive very well on moderate keep, and may be fed up to 
110 to 120 lbs. weight at two years old ; the mutton is con- 
sidered to be of very good quality. It is found more advan- 
tageous to cross them with a lomj-icooUcd than a sliort-vjoolled 
breed. When crossed with the Romney Marsh sheep the size 
and shape of the animal are considerably improved, an earlier 
maturity and disposition to fatten is acquired, and a heavier 
fleece, somewhat inferior in quality but with a longer staple, is 
produced. At the same time they require a richer pasture and 
more attention than the pure Merinos. 
Shetland. — ^The group of islands forming the northern extre- 
mity of Scotland possess a breed of sheep whose hardihood of 
constitution and capability of enduring extremes of hunger and 
of cold render it admirably adapted for a country exposed, like 
the Shetland and Orkney Isles, to such frequent and furious 
storms, and from which little natural shelter is afforded. But 
little care or attention is bestowed upon the sheep, which are 
left entirely to their own resources on the rough uncultivated 
lands, and are rarely collected together, save for the sake of their 
wool, when they are marked by their respective owners, and 
