OR OVIS HISPANICA. 
147 
not aware of this species having been domesticated 
in America, or imported alive to Europe, and we 
believe that no domestic breeds are at this time 
traced to it. 
We now come to review some of the more re- 
markable of the domestic races, but if all the varie- 
ties were to be described, much more than the pro- 
per proportion of our space would be occupied, and 
on that account one or two only of these from each 
continent will be noticed. It may be premised, that 
Writers have generally placed all the varieties under 
the denomination of Ovis aries, though it is generally 
acknowledged that it is from some one of those we 
have been now describing that they are derived. 
Among the European races with which we shall 
Commence, by far the most important, as far as re- 
gards the texture of the wool, is the Merino, though, 
tf we shall look to a combination of advantages, some 
of the British breeds will surpass it in value ; while 
by crossing, the hardier nature has been transferred, 
and the produce of a wool of equal quality, but near- 
ty double in quantity, has been yielded by some of 
them. The sheep known by the name of the Rye- 
land breed has been most successful in Britain under 
this kind of management. , 
To the Merino breed, Ovis hispanica has been 
applied, and, as the name implies, is chiefly culti- 
