116 A DESCRIPTION OF 
Ewe has one or two young ones at a time, and the lamb 
has always been an emblem of innocence. 
In its domestic state, it is too well known to require a 
detail of its peculiar habits, or of the methods which have 
been adopted to improve the breed. No country produces 
finer Sheep than England, either with larger fleeces, or 
better adapted for the business of clothing. Those of 
Spain have confessedly finer wool, and we generally require 
some of their wool to work up with our own ; but the 
weight of a Spanish fleece is much inferior to one of 
Lincoln or Tees Water. Merino, or Spanish Sheep, have 
of late years been introduced with some success into our 
English pastures, and the wool of the hybrids, raised be- 
tween the Merino Sheep and the South Down Sheep, is 
thought nearly equal to that of Spain. 
In stormy weather, these animals generally hide them- 
selves in caves from the fury of the elements ; but if such 
retreats are not to be found, they collect themselves toge- 
ther, during the fall of snow, and place their heads near 
each other, with their muzzles inclined to the ground. In 
this situation they sometimes remain, till hunger compels 
them to gnaw each other's wool, which forms into hard 
balls in the stomach, and destroys them. But in general, 
they are sought out and extricated soon after the storm has 
subsided. 
