132 
THE MERINO, OR OVIS HISPANICA. 
the Soutli Downs ; their legs are as short as those 
of that breed, — a point which merits observation, as 
they travel so much, and so well. Their shape is 
very good; round ribs, and flat straight backs; and 
would be with us reckoned handsome sheep, all in 
good order and flesh. In order to be still better ac- 
quainted with them, I desired one of the shepherds 
to catch a ram for me to feel, and examine the wool, 
which I found very thick and good, of the carding 
sort, as may be supposed. I took a specimen of it, 
and also of a hoggit or lamb of last year. In regard 
to the mellow softness under the skin, which, in Mr 
Bakewell’s opinion, is a strong indication of a good 
breed, with a disposition to fatten, he had it in a 
much superior degree to many of our English breeds, 
to the full as much so as the South Downs, which are 
for that part the best short-woolled sheep which I 
know in England. The fleece was on his back, and 
weighed, as I guessed, about 8 lb. English ; but the 
average, they say, of the flock is from 4 to 5, as I cal- 
culated by reducing the Catalonian pound of 1 2 ounces 
to ours of 16, and is all sold to the French at 30s. the 
pound French. This ram had the wool of the back 
part of his neck tied close, and the upper tuft had a 
second knot by way of ornament ; nor do they ever 
shear this part of the fleece for that reason ; we saw 
several in the flock with this species of decoration ; 
they say that this ram would sell in Catalonia for 20 
livres. A circumstance which cannot be too much 
commended, and deserves universal imitation, is the 
