142 Professor Jameson on the Rocky Mountain Sheep , SfC. 
quisition to the manufacturers of this country, were the animal 
which yields it to experience the judicious treatment of many 
British flocks ; and there can be no doubt, that such an experi- 
ment would be well worth trying. Under this impression, I 
cannot help expressing a wish, that the Society, to whose consi- 
deration these remarks are submitted, would exert their influ- 
ence for accomplishing an object which may prove of national 
importance. 
4t At the same time, it is proper to observe, that sheep are not 
to be considered as valuable for their fleece alone. They merit 
attention as furnishing food as well as clothing to man, and any 
particular race is of value only in so far as these important ob- 
jects are combined. How far the Rocky Mountain Sheep 
might prove useful as furnishing food, I have had no opportu- 
nities of ascertaining. As to the value of the wool, if obtained 
in purity, there seems no room for doubt ; and I may state, 
that I have shewn specimens to different wool-dealers, all of 
whom expressed their admiration of their quality, and even an 
anxiety to purchase. From these specimens, however, it may 
be fair to add, the hairs had been in a great measure extracted. 
“ It may be mentioned, in conclusion, that it cannot be know n 
from the skin exhibited, whether or not the Rocky Mountain 
Sheep produces what dealers would call long wool. The long- 
est observed on the skin is scarcely exceeding two inches, being 
about one-half the usual length of the full-grown fleeces of the 
mountain sheep of Great Britain, or what is called the carding 
and clothing wool, which is even much shorter than the comb- 
sort used for worsted stuffs, &c. The comparative shortness, 
however, of the wool under consideration, proves nothing. 
Sheep cast their wool annually, if not shorn, and a new coat 
springs up. This generally takes place in this country about 
the month of June. If, therefore, the animal which produced 
the wool under consideration, was killed soon after casting its 
old wool, the new wool would not be at its full growth. This 
too, is a point which could best be determined by procuring 
living specimens of the animal, and observing their habits and 
changes.” 
Professor Jameson’s proposal having been submitted to the 
