GENUS OVIS. 
15>9 
slieep a beast of burden ; it is not uncommon how- 
ever here. In this case, they were tlie bearers of 
their master’s food, and were natives of the northern 
part of the mountains, a larger race than the common 
animals of tlie hills. They are used for trade, and 
are made to carry grain from a fertile to a less happy 
quarter. They travel with surprising quickness, and 
are kept together without the least trouble. No 
four-footed animals but goats and sheep could be used 
for such a purpose in any part of the mountains ; and 
the former being too apt to roam, perhaps the latter 
are the only ones that could be safely turned to such 
account.”*' 
Mr Wilson also remarks, on the authority of Dr 
Gillies, that in some of the districts of South Ame- 
rica, the children use tame sheep as ponies, on which 
they ride to school.j-j- 
Four or five animals are now ranked as distinct 
species of sheep, one of which, at least, we find a 
native of each continent. In nearly every case the 
'vild breeds are subjected, though they retain their 
outward characters, while the different cross breeds 
and cultivated varieties have been distributed to other 
pi'ovinces and continents ; and there are few districts 
* Skinner’s Excursions in India, 2d edit. vol. ii. p. 73. 
+ Wood was formerly so scarce at Buenos Ayres and 
Rattle so plentiful, that sheep were actually driven into the 
urnaces of lime kilns, in order ito answer the pnrposes of 
Uel. X decree of the king of Spain, prohibiting this bar- 
tJT exists.— //istoryo/iTossi; Fuel and Coal 
of Britain. 
VOL. IV. 
